India: No breakthrough in CJP-government talks
Disconent fueled by youth unemployment has served Modi a 'rude awakening,' a South Asia expert told DW Image: Altaf Hussain/REUTERS To Michael Kugelman, author and
Disconent fueled by youth unemployment has served Modi a 'rude awakening,' a South Asia expert told DW Image: Altaf Hussain/REUTERS To Michael Kugelman, author and South Asia expert, it had been clear for some time that there was a significant level of discontent among India's youth — something Prime Minister Narendra Modi seemingly missed. "A lot of that has to do with perceptions about job markets. Youth unemployment has been a reality for India for quite some time. These current protests tap into that," he told DW's Shalu Yadav.
"I would have hoped that the Prime Minister had noticed over the years," he said. "This is something that at the very least will serve as a rude awakening to the Prime Minister for really putting him in a position where he has to recognize that there is a problem," Kugelman said. That said, it is "highly unlikely" that the protests will lead to Modi's resignation or the government toppling down, as seen in India's neighbors over the last several years. Nepal saw Gen Z-led protests in 2025 which ended with a new government in power this year.
In 2024, Bangladesh's youth uprising ousted longtime Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. In 2022, youth-led protests in Sri Lanka over corruption and severe economic collapse forced former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and top officials to step down. Kugelman said India's current protests were different, first because of the scale, second because the grievances are still largely limited to the education system, and lastly because of Modi's long-built popularity. "While it's very clear that these protests have shown how many people are angry at Modi and the government, I would argue that Modi and this government more broadly continue to enjoy a fair amount of popularity, particularly relative to the governments that were ousted in mass movements elsewhere in the region in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka and Nepal over the last few years," he said.
Even still, there are some parallels to be drawn. "The fact that the police responded in the way that they did has really galvanized so many young people. And it was the same way in Bangladesh," he said.
The BriefWire