Nepal Gen Z Protests Trigger Government Collapse Amid Regional Unrest

Recent political upheavals in South Asia, notably in Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh, have been driven by widespread public dissatisfaction with economic mismanagement, corruption, and authoritarian governance, particularly mobilized by youth activism and social media campaigns. Nepal's 2025 protests were sparked by the government's ban on social media apps, leading to mass demonstrations and violent clashes that resulted in numerous deaths, highlighting the youth's frustration with unemployment and political failures. While these uprisings share themes of economic hardship and demands for change, experts caution against viewing them as a unified regional revolution akin to the Arab Spring, emphasizing their distinct national contexts. Indian RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat expressed concern that such violent movements, including Nepal's, lead to instability and create opportunities for foreign interference rather than lasting positive change. Bhagwat urged that societal transformation should occur through democratic and lawful means, warning against the chaos caused by violent outbursts and the risks they pose to regional security and cultural ties. These events underscore a generational demand for political accountability and progress amid fears of ongoing unrest affecting neighboring countries and India itself.