India's Gen Z forced Modi to listen, respond and act — exposing chinks in the ruling party's armor

Protesters raise slogans, hold placards and wave Indian flags during a gathering organized by supporters of the Cockroach Janta Party after the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over exam paper leaks, in Mumbai, India, on July 26, 2026. (Photo by Indranil Aditya/NurPhoto via Getty Images)Nurphoto | Nurphoto | Getty ImagesPrime Minister Narendra Modi's government caved under the pressure of student protests across India — a rarity in the current administration — underscoring the rising influence of Gen Zs in the world's largest democracy.On Saturday, India's education minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned, a key demand of the student protesters who were voicing concerns over examination test paper leaks. The government also agreed to the other demands of the Cockroach Janta Party, the youth movement at the helm of the protest, such as providing compensation to the families of students who died by suicide due to the exam paper leak in May.The protests that got amplified on social media, pushed 75-year-old Modi to make his first reel on Instagram as he looks to develop his presence on the platform in his bid to connect with the younger generation of voters. In his la...