Gen Z Protests and the Path to Structural Reform B. Sripad Bhat, a writer and activist, highlighted the significance of recent Gen Z-led protests against the NEET-UG paper leak, emphasizing their impact on the Modi government’s operational decisions. Speaking at a lecture organized by Namma Balaga in Shivamogga, Bhat noted that the students’ actions led to the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who was replaced by Pralhad Joshi. This shift, he argued, marked a tangible change at the operational level, though it fell short of structural reforms such as scrapping the National Testing Agency or the NEET system itself. Bhat underscored that the protests were not an ideological movement but a reaction by Gen Z to systemic issues in India’s education sector. He called for civil society to guide the youth by providing them with a political vocabulary and broader social context to transform their actions into lasting change. “The students’ protest was a response, not a manifesto,” he said, stressing the need for elders and activists to help the youth understand the deeper implications of their actions. Drawing on historical parallels, Bhat compared India’s movements to those led by the middle class, such as the 1970s anti-Indira Gandhi agitations that culminated in the Emergency, the 1980s anti-Mandal protests, and the India Against Corruption movement. He warned that these movements often strengthened forces that later consolidated power, undermining democratic institutions. Bhat urged introspection on why large segments of society continue to support regimes that prioritize order over democratic principles, even during periods of authoritarian rule like the Emergency.#dharmendra_pradhan #pralhad_joshi #b_sripad_bhat #neet_Ug_paper_leak #namma_balaga
Maha Leads The Day When India Installs Record 15k Solar Systems Maharashtra emerged as the top-performing state in India’s nationwide campaign to install rooftop solar systems under the PM Surya Ghar Free Electricity Scheme, contributing 4,700 of the record 15,000 installations achieved on May 29. This accounted for 31.3% of the total, the highest share among all states. The Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL), which oversees the scheme, attributed the state’s success to the guidance of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi commended Maharashtra’s progress, noting that the state had surpassed the six lakh rooftop solar installation milestone under the initiative. The scheme offers subsidies to residential consumers for rooftop solar systems, with incentives of Rs30,000 for 1kW, Rs60,000 for 2kW, and Rs78,000 for 3kW. MSEDCL highlighted that during the May campaign, Maharashtra ranked first in applications received, second in rooftop solar installations and vendor registrations, and first in project inspections. The state received 4.49 lakh applications, the highest in the country, and completed 54,000 installations, second only to Uttar Pradesh. It also conducted 69,000 inspections, the highest nationwide, and registered 413 vendors, the second-highest count. Registered vendors are responsible for executing rooftop solar installations, while consumers are free to select contractors from an approved list. Officials emphasized that the state’s strong performance reflects growing public participation and increasing adoption of solar energy. The initiative aims to reduce electricity bills for households by enabling them to generate their own power.#maharashtra #devendra_fadnavis #pralhad_joshi #pm_surya_ghar_free_electricity_scheme #msedcl
