AISA launches nationwide 'Gen Z Rising' campaign after Jantar Mantar protest

NEW DELHI: The All India Students' Association (AISA) on Thursday announced a nationwide outreach campaign, "Gen Z Rising", under which its national president Neha will tour several states to mobilise students and youth around issues of education reforms, unemployment and entrance examination policies.

The campaign comes in the wake of the recent student protests at Jantar Mantar over the NEET paper leak and irregularities in entrance examinations and the demand for reforms in the higher education sector.

In a statement, AISA said the initiative seeks to "celebrate, continue and consolidate" the student movement that emerged during the protests and expand it across the country.

The student organisation said it would continue to press for the abolition of the National Testing Agency (NTA), arguing that universities should regain the power to conduct their own entrance examinations instead of relying on a centralised testing body.

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AISA demands rollback of NEP 2026 policy

It also reiterated its demand for the rollback of the National Education Policy (NEP), alleging that the policy had adversely affected public education and was introduced without adequate consultation with stakeholders.

AISA further called for accessible and affordable education, along with secure employment opportunities for young people. Citing employment data, it claimed that unemployment among youth remains a major concern and urged the government to address the issue.

As part of the campaign, Neha will undertake a multi-state tour beginning with Ranchi on August 7, followed by visits to Kolkata on August 11, Jaipur on August 14. This will be followed by visits to Hyderabad, Vijayawada, Chennai, Kozhikode, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur and Bhubaneswar in the following days, under the first phase.

According to the organisation, subsequent phases of the tour will cover Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab and Haryana, among other states. AISA said Neha will be accompanied by several leaders associated with the recent student movement, including Danish Ali from the JNU students' union, Manish, Aameen Amitoj and other activists who participated in the protests.

The organisation said the campaign aims to strengthen the student movement by engaging with students and youth across the country and building support for its demands on education and employment.