India Youth Protests Shake Modi Government

India's youth-led Cockroach Movement gained momentum after leaked medical school entrance exam papers forced the government to invalidate results, shaking confidence in the education system. Frustration over rising unemployment and limited job opportunities has broadened the protests, drawing in families after a police crackdown. The movement presents a new political challenge for Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of major elections, highlighting the disconnect between India's economic rise and the struggles of young graduates. - Leaked exam papers for India's competitive medical school entrance test forced the government to invalidate results, sparking student protests. - The movement, satirically named the Cockroach Party (JP), began as an online joke after a Supreme Court justice dismissively called unemployed youth cockroaches. - Protests led to the rare resignation of India's education minister and calls for further education and job reforms. - Police responded with batons, tear gas, and alleged pellet guns, and videos of the crackdown spread widely, inflaming public sympathy. - Family members joined students in protests, reflecting how many see these high-stakes exams as the only escape from poverty. - Traditional employment pathways for young Indians, such as US H-1B visas, are narrowing, adding to economic frustration. - The movement underscores growing political risk for Prime Minister Modi's ruling BJP ahead of major elections.