THE IMPACT OF GLOBAL YOUTH MOVEMENTS ON INDIAN YOUTH (2020–OCTOBER 2026) A Sociological Study of Political Consciousness, Digital Activism and Social Change

A new wave of youth movements has emerged globally in the third decade of the twenty-first century. Between 2020 and October 2026, young people in various countries staged large-scale protests against corruption, unemployment, inflation, weaknesses in education systems, the crisis of political representation, social inequality, human-rights violations and restrictions on freedom of expression. A distinctive feature of these movements has been the important role played not only by traditional organisations but also by social media, digital networks, online campaigns and decentralised leadership. Youth activism in Myanmar, Thailand, the United States, Nigeria, Sri Lanka, Iran, Bangladesh, Kenya, Indonesia, Nepal, Serbia, Morocco, Madagascar, the Philippines and European countries such as France, Italy and Spain has influenced political and social debates. By October 2026, the movements emerging in Europe had foregrounded the quality of education, the housing crisis, the rising cost of living, employment insecurity and the condition of public services. This research article presents a sociological study of the possible effects of global youth movements on Indian youth by analysing their nature, causes, forms and consequences. It uses the theories of relative deprivation, resource mobilisation and new social movements, along with the concept of the network society. The study concludes that global youth movements can encourage political awareness, sensitivity towards civil rights, digital participation and aspirations for social change among young people. However, the success of a movement is not confined to protests; it also requires democratic institutions, policy reforms and sustained social participation