India’s Youth-Led ‘Cockroach’ Protests Challenge Modi’s Government

A massive youth-led protest movement in India, commonly referred to as the ‘cockroach’ protests, has drawn significant attention. The protests began as a response to leaked medical entrance exams, sparking widespread dissatisfaction among the country’s youth with the current government. These young protesters have labeled themselves ‘cockroaches,’ a name inspired by a derogatory comparison made by a top official, who likened jobless youth to pests.

Producer Zeba Warsi, with field contributions from Uzair Usmani and Naila Khan, reports on how India’s Generation Z is facing off against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This movement represents one of the largest challenges to the Indian leadership and has put a spotlight on the government’s policies affecting young people.

Zeba Warsi is a foreign affairs producer based in Washington D.C. She holds a Master of Arts in Political Journalism from Columbia Journalism School. Warsi is notable for being part of the team that received the 2024 Peabody award for NewsHour’s coverage of the conflict in Gaza and Israel.

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