How Gen Z is rattling South Asia’s elites : NPR

Key Points:

• In South Asia, recent youth-led protests in Nepal, Bangladesh, and India reveal deep frustrations over elite privilege, unemployment, and corruption despite economic growth, with social media playing a key role in mobilization.
• Nepal banned 26 social media platforms in 2025 to curb misinformation, but critics saw it as a move to suppress exposure of political elites, leading to mass protests and the resignation of Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli.
• Bangladesh's 2024 student protests toppled Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina after a court upheld job quotas favoring independence war descendants, highlighting tensions over perceived unfair advantages for elites.
• In India, widespread exam paper leaks and derogatory remarks by the Chief Justice triggered large student protests, culminating in the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, underscoring youth discontent with corruption and unemployment.
• Structural issues driving these uprisings include unequal wealth distribution, corruption undermining meritocracy, and increased internet access empowering youth activism, signaling that addressing systemic youth grievances is crucial for regional stability.