The ‘lazy’ generation held power accountable
The article analyzes the recent student protests at Jantar Mantar, which led to the resignation of the Union Education Minister, refuting the stereotype of Gen Z as 'lazy' or 'apolitical'. It highlights how the protests, driven by systemic issues like examination paper leaks and administrative opacity, demonstrated a 'direct public accountability' mechanism between elections. The piece discusses the critical role of print media in sustained reporting compared to audiovisual media, draws parallels with student movements in other South Asian countries, and emphasizes the examination system's importance for social mobility and state legitimacy. It concludes by advocating for structural reforms beyond mere personnel changes to address the underlying governance failures.
The article analyzes the recent student protests at Jantar Mantar, which led to the resignation of the Union Education Minister, refuting the stereotype of Gen Z as 'lazy' or 'apolitical'. It highlights how the protests, driven by systemic issues like examination paper leaks and administrative opacity, demonstrated a 'direct public accountability' mechanism between elections. The piece discusses the critical role of print media in sustained reporting compared to audiovisual media, draws parallels with student movements in other South Asian countries, and emphasizes the examination system's importance for social mobility and state legitimacy. It concludes by advocating for structural reforms beyond mere personnel changes to address the underlying governance failures.
Exam linkage
GS Paper II: Indian Polity and Governance - Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States; Separation of powers between various organs; Parliament and State Legislatures—structure, functioning; Structure, organization and functioning of the Executive; pressure groups and formal/informal associations and their role in the Polity; Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies; Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors; Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, citizens charters, transparency & accountability and institutional and other measures; Role of civil services in a democracy.
Syllabus mapping
This topic appears in Mains
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