India is getting a lot of world attention at present, albeit for wrong reasons, due to (a) an ongoing youth movement across the country against alleged corruption in its ‘corporatized’ education system, leading to the reported suicide of more than 20 young students in the past few months in reaction to the alleged systemic leak of question papers in various competitive examinations over the past few years (by an alleged education mafia), which led recently to peaceful student protests across the country and resulted in a forced but reluctant resignation of its influential education minister, albeit after disturbing reports emerged accusing its security forces of using a brutal, unconstitutional force on the unarmed protestors; and (b) a high and alarmingly rising unemployment of its tertiary educated youth.
Where is India heading to? Does India really know what it is doing?
The following numbers are disturbing.
As per the published data available on the web, in June 2026, the unemployment rate of the educated youth in India was reported to be around 16.2%. Amongst the university graduates, however, the current unemployment rate is reported to be an alarmingly 40%, obviously leading to their high frustration and anger against the entire system gripping the country and, in particular, the ruling politicians who are seen as complicit in the alleged paper-leak scams and a systemic corporatisation of the Indian education system and the job industry, causing a high rate in the youth unemployment.
From a social stability perspective, India has alarmingly become too top heavy in the past decade or so — both in terms of the country’s internal wealth and the political power — with significant wealth and political power differentials characterising the nation, thus, reflecting an impending state of internal instability and unease, which must alarm all those who care for India and can readily visualise the situation without bias and its unacceptable consequences.
As per the nominal GDP per capita (~$2,810), India figures amongst the poorest nations in the world, ranking 149th. However, as per the number of billionaires, it ranks third amongst the world after the US and China and, alarmingly, their number is increasing with time, thus, further exacerbating the inequality in the country and the impending internal instability. [As per the Forbes, India can boast of lengthening the list of its billionaires to 229; but, may even have 308 billionaires, as per Hurun.]
More than 800 million people in India are reported to continue to survive on the government food-dole (5 kgs of rice per person/month), which was started by the current government many years ago but without alleviating their poverty.
On the political front, only around one-third people support the ruling party but, alarmingly, they abhor the remaining two-third population and popularly brand them as ‘anti-nationals’, which potentially makes most of India a country of aliens.
In geopolitics, India is isolated from most of its immediate neighbours and seen shockingly complicit in the ongoing Gaza genocide and the Iran war.
India shifted gradually to a more capitalistic and authoritarian system since 2014.
India is being ruled by a characteristically capitalistic, right-wing, authoritarian party, supported by around 30% to 35% Indian voters, as reflected by the results of last three general elections. The ruling party and their supporters envision India as an essentially Hindu Rashtra (a Hindu country), despite the Preamble of the Constitution of India clearly stating: ‘India is a sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic republic’.
Why this contradiction? Simple reason:
The Indian society typically follows a vertical hierarchical social structure, as reflected by a thriving caste system.
According to some estimates available on the web: (a) the top 1% population owns about 40% of India’s internal wealth; (b) the top 10% population owns around 65% wealth; and (c) the top 30% population owns around 85% wealth. The lower-half of India’s population is understood to own less than 7% of Indian internal wealth.
It is this upper 10% to 20% strata that is disproportionately privileged, politically powerful and socially influential. Understandably, therefore, this stratum abhors the words ‘socialism’ and ‘equality’; thus, it dreads the current wealth differential being tampered with in any manner, or diluted in any shape or form, as ‘equality‘ shakes it to its core. As part of its high social status and empowerment, it enjoys (rather sadistically) and benefits from the services of the lower 70% population in most if not all walks of life, such as from domestic help, labourers, workers etc. Understandably, therefore, it feels internally threatened by their potential rise through a tall socio-economic ladder.
It is for this reason, in essence, and to nurture the existing wealth differential, like their counterparts around the world, why most of the privileged upper caste and the upper socio-economic class actively supports a right-wing party that promises them security against the minorities and the unprivileged masses from the lower castes, but uses religion as a proven tool to polarise and divide the nation, by instilling fear in the upper rungs of the society against the rise of the unprivileged.
Logically, based on laws of science and economics, such a massively top-heavy social structure can’t be expected to remain stable in the long-term. Indian policy makers must recognise that India is not a small country with a few million people but, on the contrary, the world’s largest country in terms of population and amongst the poorest in terms of the GDP per capita.
India must urgently reform its domestic policies and stop an abhorrent treatment towards the minorities and the unprivileged lower classes and, essentially, revise its economy model, which is currently capitalistic, to spread more evenly its internal wealth and power, with aim to instil a much needed stability, equity, peace and prosperity across the country. India must return to a more hybrid economic model, standing on the competitive legs of both private and public sectors.
India has indeed a very bright future.
Amongst the current leaders in India, the Leader of Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, comes across as one selfless leader with the necessary grit and capability to pull India out of the current uncertainty, put it back on the rails of liberal democracy and progress, and lead it towards a sustainable future. Having walked across the length and breadth of India several times, and hearing the cries and concerns of the poor masses over the past few years, he can be imagined understanding the needs and sensitivities of the present India, especially its youth, the future. Most importantly, he does not need to read out from written scripts or hide from the press.
As a well-educated young person, Rahul presents himself as an excellent bridge between a conservative past and a liberal future of India. He carries a huge legacy of his illustrious ancestors who fought for India’s independence and, thereafter, served and died for India. In a true sense, therefore, he carries the soul and the aspirations of a young India, particularly, the needs of India’s struggling youth and the hopes of their concerned parents who toil hard day and night for seeing their children’s bright future.
A super-mega youth event, on 8 August 2026, by Rahul Gandhi at Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh (part of his ongoing countrywide ‘Students’ Roar’ movement) must be considered as a significant landmark event in India’s politics and, possibly, a defining moment and a turning point for India, as a sign of India’s foreseeable bright, educated and progressive future.
Undoubtedly, Mr Gandhi comes across naturally connected and clicking with India’s informed youth; possibly, they see in him an authentic, genuine, empathetic person, without frills or ignorance or an unscientific mind, one who seems to be physically fit, educated and informed, mentally alert and witty, tuned to the future and committed to serve his country selflessly, and not just work for a few crony capitalists.
India has indeed a bright future, without any doubt!
Bill K Koul (09 August 2026, Perth, Western Australia)
Copyright © Bill K Koul