Viewing whatever is happening nowadays in various parts of the country, starting from Jantar Mantar in the national capital Delhi, merely as a small case of a specific examination or CBSE or the medical ‘NEET’ paper leak would be a mistake. In reality, this is an explosion of that long-accumulated, burning discontent and deep outrage, whose mind and brain are repeatedly echoing today— “Enough, now we can bear it no longer, too much has happened.”
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Against the day-by-day increasing regular disorder in today’s higher education system, the horrifying form of unemployment, and all the false and attractive promises given by the ruling class, the voice of this young generation has risen. The question here is not merely about one or two question papers being leaked, but rather a large, pathetic picture of the backbone of the entire education system breaking is clearly reflected here. The massive crowd of youth gathered in the capital are not just the NEET examinees of that year or students taking other competitive exams. Rather, they are all the unfortunate youths of the country who are living amidst an endless discontent, feeling frustrated at every step of their daily livelihood, future, secure employment, and career.
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Whose stomach is no longer filled merely by political speeches or by the display of buildings and infrastructure being built in every corner of the country, but instead, they desire a secure, respectable livelihood for two square meals a day and a beautiful social life.
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Looking back at the pages of history, it becomes clear that these are neither the protesting youths from Dr. Lohia’s time nor the students of the older generation who participated in the Mandal Commission or Ram Mandir movement during V.P. Singh’s era. Today, smartphones are in their hands, and this new youth generation of the digital world knows very well that along with basic needs, a strong and secure career is most essential in today’s time. But the misfortune is that sometimes the increasing percentage of reservation, sometimes the sky-high fees of higher education, and sometimes repeated paper leaks, shortage of seats, and the collapsed examination system are daily reducing every hope and possibility of these youths’ careers to dust.
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Real Causes of Youth Discontent
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This movement is not just the discontent of certain examinees, but a burning protest of the entire youth generation deeply worried about their future, employment, and career.
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Today’s youths do not want to see merely hollow promises or infrastructure; rather, they want a secure livelihood for two square meals a day and a respectable life in society every day. Serious problems like increasing education fees, the low proportion of seats, and paper leaks occurring every year are shattering all the dreams of the youths into pieces every day.
Mirror of Society and the Role of Movement in Democracy
Whatever is happening in the capital at this time reflects the true picture of today’s society, where every parent is extremely apprehensive and terrified regarding the future of their children.
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This is neither the first nor the last movement; rather, in a healthy democracy, along with the presence of space to express dissent and opposition against government policies, it is also necessary for them to be heard.
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Lack of Communication and Administrative Brutality
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By closing all doors of communication for the solution of the problems of the public and students, discontent has progressively increased, which finally forced even the Prime Minister to address the nation. Lathi-charging by the police on these tender-aged students building the country’s future and making them desperate is directly akin to pushing them onto the wrong path. The indescribable physical and mental harm faced by students, journalists, and on-duty police personnel during the movement is never condonable.
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Failure of the Education System and Economic Data
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Between 2002 and 2025, the leaking of 45 major examinations in the country, meaning more than two examinations being destroyed every year, is extremely worrying.
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According to Niti Aayog reports, more than 94,000 government schools have been closed within the last 10 years, which clearly highlights the weakness of our government education system.
Although crores of students take competitive exams every year, employment and seats are not being generated in that proportion, which puts immense pressure on the mentality of the youth.
Students committing suicide after the NEET paper leak and the problem of unemployment taking a terrifying form in the country has become a national issue.
Mindset of the New Generation and the Impact of Social Media
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The thinking style of today’s ‘Gen Z’ generation is completely different from the previous generation; instead of long speeches or false promises, they want immediate and effective solutions.
Since all platforms of communication with the government have vanished, this youth generation has chosen social media and various digital mediums to express their protest.
The old analysis methods of traditional political parties or mainstream media can no longer attract or influence this ultra-modern youth generation of today.
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Conclusion
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Although there was some degree of anarchy and faults in this movement, the pain and problems underlying it can never be completely ignored.
So that in the future, no youth or student of our country has to face such police brutality, it is necessary for the government and administration to establish transparent communication with the youth well in advance.
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