Gen-Z Mobilizes Against Reservation After NEET Issue

July 30, 2026

The youth force emerging across the country— led by the ‘Cockroach Janata Party’—staged a protest at Jantar Mantar demanding punishment for those responsible for the paper leak; Sonam Wangchuk joined them in a fast-unto-death, followed by a march to Parliament on July 20, ultimately culminating in Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation as Education Minister. India’s youth are awake.

Having tackled the paper leak issue, they will not hesitate to take to the streets over other burning issues. This is not merely about an emerging youth group; it signifies a renaissance among Gen-Z. The question arises: what next? Gen-Z has now begun mobilizing against reservation. A page titled the “Remove Reservation Movement” (*Aarakshan Hatao Andolan*) has been created on Instagram. In just 48 hours, over 5.3 million people joined it, with thousands of new followers signing up every hour. The movement is not limited to Instagram, Facebook, or WhatsApp; the organization is preparing to take the campaign to the next level through a dedicated website, online membership drives, and digital operations.

There are announcements that those involved in the movement are preparing for a protest even larger than the one held at Jantar Mantar regarding the NEET paper leak. Young people from diverse backgrounds and social strata appear to be seeking common ground based on shared experiences or minority status. Their demand is for reservation to be based on economic criteria rather than caste.

The anticipated demands of this upcoming movement include: abolishing caste-based reservation; ensuring merit-based selection in education and government jobs; implementing a uniform education system for all students; minimizing the role of caste identity in government forms and procedures (preventing its influence from constantly expanding); and ensuring equal opportunities and a level playing field for all young people.

None of these demands are unfamiliar to us. Now, Gen-Z also wants to mobilize around these demands. Meanwhile, a caste-based census is underway in the country, and there is significant tension in various quarters regarding reservation. Only time will tell what becomes of this new movement