Youth Unrest in India Highlights Deep Labor and Education Challenges

After the chief justice labeled unemployed graduates as “cockroaches,” a new “Cockroach Janta Party” sparked protests, police crackdowns and internet bans, culminating in the education minister’s resignation and exposing broader job and schooling problems.

When India’s chief justice referred to jobless youth as “cockroaches,” it ignited the creation of the Cockroach Janta Party, a movement that quickly organized marches on parliament. Authorities responded with harsh police crackdowns and intermittent internet shutdowns, and the pressure eventually led to the resignation of the education minister. Economist Adam Tooze explains that despite measurable GDP growth and infrastructure upgrades, the country’s labor market remains skewed toward agriculture and informal employment, with only a small share in formal contracts.

He highlights that India’s education system, while producing elite talent, suffers from poor elementary outcomes and inadequate teacher support, limiting the pipeline of skilled workers. The rise of artificial intelligence threatens up to 130 million routine white-collar jobs, intensifying concerns about future employment. Tooze also questions why India has not replicated the manufacturing success of Bangladesh or Vietnam, noting regulatory and wage barriers. The conversation concludes with an overview of India’s welfare innovations, from job-guarantee programs to direct digital cash transfers, underscoring a complex policy landscape aimed at addressing widespread poverty.