India faces growing tension over protest methods and governance accountability

Recent protests in India have highlighted a growing disconnect between citizens and the state. While traditional protests in the country have often focused on specific grievances—such as the 2021 farm law reversals—current demonstrations have increasingly utilized language centered on “regime change” and challenges to the “Indian State.”

Observers note a frustration among the youth regarding irregularities in electoral list revisions and government examinations. This unrest is attributed to a lack of systemic avenues for citizens to engage with elected officials or hold them accountable between election cycles. Despite the constitutional framework established by B.R. Ambedkar, many citizens find existing institutional channels for seeking remedial action on basic issues—such as water access, education, and infrastructure—to be inadequate, inaccessible, or prohibitively expensive.