India could be next. Across the region, youth anger has already toppled leaders — Sheikh Hasina in Bangladesh and Khadga Prasad Oli in Nepal. In both cases, the spark was a government action that Gen Z saw as an attack on their future: quotas in Dhaka, a social media blackout in Kathmandu.
India has similar pressure points building. The repeated exam paper leaks and cancellations in 2024–25 have enraged millions of students preparing for careers that hinge on fair competition. Unemployment remains stubbornly high among young graduates, creating a pool of frustration. Student organizations from left to right are mobilizing around education reforms, while Assam’s protests over the citizenship law show the identity card can also trigger mass action.
Combine this with India’s frequent internet curbs, and the ingredients are there for a youth-driven movement that could quickly scale. If a scandal or heavy-handed crackdown unites these fragmented protests, India could see the same generational revolt that reshaped its neighbors.