Youth frustration over corruption and unemployment is reshaping South Asia’s politics.
In Nepal, Generation Z protests against graft and joblessness brought down the government in September 2025. A year earlier, student demonstrations in Bangladesh forced the prime minister into exile, while similar unrest in Sri Lanka in 2022 ousted its president.
Governments that emerged from these movements now face immense pressure to deliver on promises of employment and reform. The World Bank estimates that by 2035, nearly 70 million young people in South Asia could be out of school and out of work if current trends continue.
Experts say only strong private-sector growth and inclusive education can prevent another wave of instability. The region’s youth, once marginalized, are now a political force demanding dignity, opportunity, and transparency.