Archive · 28 Sep 2026
Young leaders debate Gen-Z politics and India’s changing global image
Young leaders met on a television program to talk about young people and politics.
Rhiya Ahir said Gen-Z questions old systems and sometimes protests when leaders do not listen.
She said students should not have to leave schools and colleges to be heard.
Sidharth Yadav said young people’s problems should be discussed everywhere, not only when it helps one political side.
He pointed to student and education problems in Jharkhand, Punjab, and Kerala.
Rhiya replied that she had posted about the Jharkhand protests online.
Ayush Nambiar said people abroad now see India more positively than they did about 12 years ago.
Anish Gawande said India is more important than any one leader or party.
The discussion showed different views about protests, political fairness, and India’s image.
Young leaders debated Indian politics and its relevance to Gen-Z at NDTV Yuva.
Actor Rhiya Ahir defended student protests as a way to challenge systems young people distrust.
Bharatiya Janata Party media co-convenor Sidharth Yadav accused some activists of selectively highlighting youth issues.
Businessman Ayush Nambiar said India’s international image and the respect commanded by Indians had improved over roughly 12 years.
Nationalist Congress Party spokesperson Anish Gawande said India’s reputation is bigger than any single leader or political party.
- Who
- Young leaders including Rhiya Ahir, Sidharth Yadav, Ayush Nambiar, and Anish Gawande.
- What
- They debated Gen-Z’s relationship with Indian politics, youth protests, and India’s global reputation.
- When
- The discussion took place on the day described as “today” in the article; no calendar date is provided.
- Where
- On NDTV Yuva.
- Why
- To discuss whether young people’s political concerns are being addressed consistently and how India is viewed internationally.
Youth activism and political accountability
Consistency and national perspective
Student protests
Youth activism and political accountability
Rhiya Ahir said Gen-Z is willing to question systems it does not believe in and may take to the streets when decision-makers are distant. She described the Education Minister’s resignation as feeling like an “early Diwali.”
Consistency and national perspective
Sidharth Yadav said youth concerns should be treated equally across the country and argued that activists sometimes select issues based on political convenience.
Attention to regional issues
Youth activism and political accountability
Ahir replied that she had made several Instagram posts about the Jharkhand student protests, contrary to Yadav’s assertion that she had said nothing about them.
Consistency and national perspective
Yadav cited student protests in Jharkhand, teacher vacancies and poor school conditions in Punjab, and water-cannon use against students in Kerala as issues receiving insufficient attention.
India’s reputation
Youth activism and political accountability
Anish Gawande argued that India’s standing and integrity are larger than any single leader, party, or individual.
Consistency and national perspective
Ayush Nambiar said India’s image abroad has improved over roughly 12 years and that Indians now command greater respect when discussing business opportunities.
- Platform
- NDTV Yuva
- Main topic
- Indian politics and its relevance to Gen-Z
- Youth protest issue
- Rhiya Ahir discussed protests over the NEET paper leak.
- Political response
- Sidharth Yadav criticized what he called selective attention to youth issues.
- Education concerns cited
- Yadav referred to student protests in Jharkhand, 31,000 teacher vacancies in Punjab, and student water-cannon incidents in Kerala.
- Global image
- Ayush Nambiar said India’s international image had changed over approximately 12 years.
- National identity
- Anish Gawande said India’s reputation cannot be built or damaged by one individual.