An exam leak in India exposed a Gen Z jobs crisis that goes much deeper

NEW DELHI, INDIA - JULY 20: Security personnel carry out Lathi charge during CJP protest March to near the Parliament House on July 20, 2026 in New Delhi, India. (Photo by Raj K Raj/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)Hindustan Times | Hindustan Times | Getty ImagesIndia's youth unemployment crisis has become one of the biggest vulnerabilities for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government, exposing the gap between the country's economic ambitions and the reality facing millions of young graduates.The frustration erupted into the open this month after a leaked paper forced a retest of India's ultra-competitive medical entrance exam, prompting nationwide student protests led by a viral, social media-focused youth movement called the Cockroach Janta Party. While the exam scandal was the immediate trigger, economists say the demonstrations reflected something much deeper: a generation struggling to find secure, well-paying jobs despite spending years competing for an education.Seeing footage of police fire tear gas at student protesters in Delhi on July 20 struck a nerve with 27-year-old Mumbai professional Abheet Mohanty (whose name has been changed due to the sensitive nature of the top...