For more than a decade, the political landscape in India has been reshaped by the rhetoric of nationalism, charismatic leadership and identity politics. Yet, a new wave of protest led or organised by Generation Z suggests that India’s political discourse is undergoing an important transformation. Unlike earlier mobilisations driven by ideology-based concerns, the contemporary protests have emerged from a governance crisis centred on education, institutional accountability and employment.

The trigger behind the protests has been allegations of repeated leaks of examination papers that determine admission to professional institutions. For millions of Indian students and their families, these examinations represent not merely academic milestones but pathways to economic mobility. When the legitimacy of these examinations is compromised, the state’s promise of meritocracy is equally undermined. The recent demonstrations associated with the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) have evolved into a broader movement demanding accountability, transparency and institutional reforms rather than merely expressing anger over an examination scandal. Interestingly, the Cockroach Janata Party derives its name from a remark made by the Chief Justice of India comparing unemployed youth to “cockroaches”, an insult that protesters strategically transformed into a symbol of resilience. This reflects an emerging pattern in youth politics: reclaiming derogatory labels through humour and........

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