The five-week Gen Z sit-in at Jantar Mantar has prompted a remarkable series of government responses: a change at the helm of the Union Education Ministry, a task force under Nandan Nilekani to reform the examination system, and a direct assurance from Prime Minister Modi that those who tamper with exams will face tougher punishment.

For the protesters, examination integrity is important but insufficient. Even a perfectly functioning examination system can only determine who gets through the gate. It cannot answer the more fundamental question: what awaits India’s young people once they do? The root cause is the lack of an institutional response to create enough productive, remunerative and aspirational jobs for India’s growing pool of young people.