MANOJ DUBEY
Gen Z (Generation Z) is the generation that follows Millennials and precedes Generation Alpha. While there isn't a universally agreed-upon date range, Gen Z is commonly defined as people born between about 1997 and 2012. Some characteristics often associated with Gen Z include: Digital natives: They grew up with smartphones, social media, streaming services, and high-speed internet. Tech-savvy: They're generally comfortable learning and using new technologies. Socially aware: Many Gen Z individuals are engaged with issues such as climate change, mental health, diversity, and social justice. Entrepreneurial: Many are interested in side hustles, freelancing, content creation, and starting businesses. Practical: Having grown up during events like the Great Recession and the COVID-19 pandemic, many value financial stability and flexibility. It's important to remember that these are broad trends—not every Gen Z person shares the same interests, values, or behaviours. The estimated Gen Z population in India is about 370–390 million, which is approximately 25–27% of the total population. This makes India home to one of the largest Gen Z populations in the world.
Harnessing their potential
To enable Generation Z to contribute fully to India's development, the government can prioritise the following:
Improve education quality: Modernise school and university curricula with greater emphasis on critical thinking, problem-solving, digital literacy, and practical skills. Strengthen skill development: Expand vocational training, apprenticeships, and industry-aligned certification programmes in areas such as artificial intelligence, robotics, cybersecurity, renewable energy, and advanced manufacturing. Create quality jobs: Promote labour-intensive manufacturing, support micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), attract investment, and simplify regulations to generate sustainable employment. Support entrepreneurship: Provide easier access to finance, startup incubation, mentoring, and simplified compliance procedures for young entrepreneurs. Invest in digital infrastructure: Ensure affordable, high-speed internet and digital access in rural and remote areas to reduce the digital divide.
Promote research and innovation: Increase investment in research and development, encourage university-industry collaboration, and offer grants for innovation and technology commercialisation. Enhance mental and physical health services: Expand access to counselling, preventive healthcare, sports facilities, and wellness programmes for young people. Encourage civic participation: Involve youth in policymaking through youth councils, internships in public institutions, and volunteer programmes.
Strengthen financial literacy by teaching budgeting, investing, taxation, and responsible borrowing in schools, colleges, and through public awareness campaigns. Support green jobs by creating employment opportunities in renewable energy, electric mobility, waste management, sustainable agriculture, and environmental conservation. Promote gender equality and inclusion by ensuring equal access to education, employment, entrepreneurship, and leadership opportunities for women and marginalised groups. Improve career guidance by establishing career counselling centres and employment exchanges that connect students with emerging industries and their skill requirements.
By investing in education, skills, innovation, employment, and entrepreneurship, India can harness the potential of its large Gen Z population, strengthen its demographic dividend, and accelerate progress towards Viksit Bharat 2047.
Capabilities
India's youth have the energy, skills, and creativity to play a major role in India's development. They can contribute by continuously upgrading their technical, digital, and professional skills to meet the demands of a rapidly changing economy. They can innovate by building startups that solve real-world problems, create jobs, and strengthen India's economy. Their support for the Make in India initiative is phenomenal, as they develop and promote high-quality products and technologies that reduce dependence on imports.
Our youth can adopt ethical digital practices, protect the environment, and promote social harmony by respecting diversity and rejecting discrimination, violence, and hate. They can excel in science, technology, sports, arts, research, and entrepreneurship, enhancing India's international reputation. If India's Gen Z harnesses its talent, innovation, and sense of responsibility, it can become one of the strongest drivers of the country's economic growth, technological leadership, social progress, and the vision of a developed India.
Challenges
The education system, particularly the examination system, needs sweeping reforms. We have witnessed numerous paper leaks in recent years, causing unrest among students. Paper leaks undermine merit, public trust, and equal opportunity. The National Testing Agency (NTA) was established in 2017 as an autonomous premier testing organisation under the Ministry of Education to conduct national-level entrance examinations for higher education, including NEET. It has only about 10% regular staff and has miserably failed to perform its tasks. A comprehensive reform strategy should combine technology, stronger institutions, and stricter enforcement. Conduct computer-based examinations wherever feasible, using secure, encrypted systems. Encrypt question papers and release them digitally only shortly before the examination. Create multiple randomised question paper sets and allocate them randomly to centres. Strengthen cybersecurity and use AI-based monitoring to detect suspicious activity. Conduct thorough background verification of officials involved in paper setting, printing, and distribution.
Install CCTV surveillance and biometric verification at printing presses, storage facilities, and examination centres. Establish an independent National Examination Security Authority to oversee security standards. Impose stringent penalties, including imprisonment, heavy fines, and lifetime debarment, for those involved in paper leaks. Protect whistle-blowers and establish confidential reporting mechanisms. Ensure examinations are conducted within fixed timelines, with swift re-examinations in case of a breach. These reforms can significantly reduce paper leaks, enhance transparency, and restore public confidence in India's examination system.
Students’ Protest
Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) is a youth-led satirical political movement founded in May 2026 by Abhijeet Dipke. It emerged in response to alleged examination paper leaks, youth unemployment, and demands for greater transparency and accountability in public institutions. The movement organised protests at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, drawing large participation from students and young people. The protest turned violent, injuring many students and police personnel. In a democratic system, peaceful protest is a constitutional right, but violence has no place. Although called a "party," CJP has stated that it functions as a pressure group rather than a registered political party contesting elections. It seeks reforms in examination systems, public governance, and youth-related policies through peaceful protests and public campaigns. The government must take adequate steps to protect students’ interests to avoid such protests.
Conclusion
India should invest in quality education, skill development, entrepreneurship, mental health services, digital literacy, innovation, and job creation. At the same time, Gen Z should focus on continuous learning, responsible technology use, civic responsibility, ethical leadership, and environmental stewardship. The government needs to stay in close contact with them to understand their problems and find solutions. By harnessing their talent and energy, Gen Z can play a pivotal role in India's development. As India’s fully digital generation, they are the country’s greatest strength. With the right opportunities, guidance, and enabling policies, Gen Z can become India's greatest strategic asset—driving economic growth, technological leadership, social progress, and global influence in the 21st century.
(The content of this article reflects the views of writer and contributor, not necessarily those of the publisher and editor. All disputes are subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of competent courts and forums in Delhi/New Delhi only)
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