Page 2 - Gen Z

Nepal election pits former rapper against old guard vying for Gen Zs

Balendra Shah, a 35-year-old former rapper-turned-politician who was previously the mayor of the capital Kathmandu, has emerged as a front-runner with backing from many of the young voters

Nepal to hold general election on Thursday, first after Gen Z protests

Voting will be held on Thursday for the general elections, the first one to be held after a Gen Z youth led protest toppled the K P Sharma Oli-led government in Nepal last year. More than 18.9 million eligible Nepalese will exercise their franchise to elect 275 member House of Representatives (HoR) from among the 3,406 candidates vying for 165 seats under direct voting and 3,135 candidates vying for 110 seats through proportionate voting. The election campaign concluded mid-night of Monday, March 2. The voting will start at 7 am on Thursday, March 5, and conclude at 5 pm. Acting Chief election commissioner Ram Prasad Bhandari told media persons on Wednesday, "This time the voting percentage will increase and the percentage of invalid ballot papers will also decline due to improved voter education launched by the commission." He also sought cooperation from all sides to conduct the election successfully. The Gen Z youth through their two-day intensified protests on September 8 and

Nepal to hold first election since Gen Z protests with three PM contenders

A former rapper who ran Kathmandu as a mayor. The young leader of Nepal's oldest political party. And a communist veteran politician hoping to return to power after being ousted in youth-led protests in which dozens were killed last year. They are the three leading contenders as Nepal heads into a crucial nationwide election, the first since the protests led to the fall of former Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli's government in September. Whoever prevails will become Nepal's 16th prime minister in less than two decades, underscoring the recurring political instability that has marked the Himalayan nation since the monarchy was abolished in 2008. The protests in Nepal last year revealed the extent of young people's frustration with corruption and a lack of opportunity in the country, where around a fifth of young people are unemployed, but where the children of the political elite seem to enjoy luxury lifestyles and numerous advantages. After public outrage led to the resignation of

Youth discontent could trigger another rebellion, warns Nepal PM Karki

Nepal's interim Prime Minister Sushila Karki on Thursday warned that failing to address youth discontent could trigger another rebellion. Speaking on the 76th Democracy Day celebrations at the Nepali Army Pavilion in Kathmandu, she said democracy must deliver results, protect citizens' rights and ensure accountability. Referring to the Gen Z-led protests in September last year that led to the ouster of K P Sharma Oli-led coalition government, Karki said, "That movement sought an end to corruption, nepotism and discrimination. It sought good governance and equitable justice." "The state must respond to this not only with generosity, but also with humility and a deep sense of duty," she added. She warned that failing to address youth discontent could trigger another rebellion. "No nation can progress by undermining the youth," Karki, who became interim prime minister on September 12 last year, said. "The youth have energy, aspiration for change and moral anger," she said, adding ..

Gold remains top investment choice for young Indians, says survey

Gold remains the most trusted investment for young Indians despite growing access to modern financial products, with 62 per cent of respondents choosing the metal as the first choice for investment, according to a survey. The survey also revealed that 66.7 per cent of respondents stated that gold purchases are largely their personal decisions, and nearly 62 per cent stated that their most recent gold purchase was below 5 grams, indicating the changing nature of how the GenZ and Millennials look at gold. The Smytten PulseAI survey, conducted with 5,000 consumers aged between 18-39, captured how tradition-led buying is steadily giving way to a more individual, logic-driven approach. According to the survey, 61.9 per cent of respondents would choose gold if they had Rs 25,000 to invest today, far ahead of mutual funds (16.6 per cent), fixed deposits (13 per cent), stocks (6.6 per cent) and crypto (1.9 per cent). During times of economic uncertainty, 65.7 per cent said gold feels like

Is Gen Z the root of our cultural exhaustion or its most visible effect?

Blaming Gen Z for shallow culture misses the point: algorithms, nostalgia and risk-averse institutions have drained depth long before the youngest generation logged in

Four PM contenders face off in Nepal's March 5 polls after Gen Z protests

Four months after the Gen Z protests in Nepal, as many as four former prime ministers have filed their nomination papers from different constituencies for the March 5 general elections. Communist Party of Nepal (Unified MarxistLeninist) chair and deposed Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli, is contesting from Jhapa-5 while former prime minister Pushpakamal Dahal 'Prachanda' of Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre) has filed nomination from Rukum East. Two other former prime ministers Madhav Kumar Nepal of Nepali Communist Party and Baburam Bhattarai representing Pragatisheel Lokatantrik Party have filed nominations from Rautahat-1 and Gorkha-2 constituencies respectively. However, two former prime ministers, Nepali Congress leader Sher Bahadur Deuba and senior leader of Nepali Communist Party Jhala Nath Khanal are not in the race. The general elections in Nepal were necessitated after Oli resigned as prime minister on September 9, following violent protests by the youth-led Gen Z ...

Indian travelers on the lookout for new international destinations in 2026

From Vietnam to Spain, Indian travellers in 2026 are chasing new destinations and personalised experiences, with Gen Z driving event-led trips around concerts, festivals and global sports

India's Gen Z leading nation-building with creativity, energy: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said India's Gen Z is full of creativity and with innovative ideas, energy and purpose, the country's youth is at the forefront of nation-building. Addressing the concluding session of Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue (VBYLD) here in which he interacted with youngsters from across India and abroad, Modi said this initiative, in a short span of time, has grown into a significant platform where young people actively engage in shaping the nation's direction. "Every year on January 12, we celebrate the National Youth Day in honour of Swami Vivekananda, whose life and teachings continue to inspire us. Drawing inspiration from him, the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue was established," he said. Modi said the central government rolled out successive schemes with a clear focus on the youth and the startup revolution truly gathered momentum in India subsequently. "With innovative ideas, energy and purpose, Yuva Shakti is at the forefront of ...

Homegrown perfume brands smell strong growth through capital infusion

Homegrown fragrance brands are scaling fast as young Indians turn perfumes into daily lifestyle statements, pushing India's scent market towards a $4-billion future

Gen Z revolters are angry at govt they installed after Nepal's protests

Mukesh Awasti was all set leave for Australia to pursue a degree in civil engineering on a sunny day in September, but instead he joined a youth revolt against corruption in Nepal and lost his leg after being shot by security forces. Lying on a hospital bed at the National Trauma Center in the capital Kathmandu where his leg was amputated, 22-year-old Awasti said he regrets giving up so much for the little that has been achieved after the sacrifices of so many people. Violent protests in Kathmandu that began Sept. 8 left 76 people dead and more than 2,300 injured before the demonstrations fueled by Gen Z activists forced the appointment on Sept. 12 of Nepal's first female prime minister, Sushila Karki, a retired Supreme Court judge who has promised fresh elections in March. Since then, the interim government and its leader have come under criticism from many of the people who took part in the protests and expected major changes in the Himalayan nation. I am regretting my decision t

Gen Z protests: Nepal probe panel to summon Oli over use of force

A commission appointed by Nepal's interim government to probe alleged excessive use of force during the September 89 Gen Z movement will summon ousted prime minister K P Sharma Oli for clarification, officials said on Thursday. At least 19 youths, who were demonstrating against the Oli government in Kathmandu, were killed in police firing on Sep 8, with the total death toll from the two days of unrest reaching 77 people nationwide. Human Rights Watch (HRW) and other bodies have alleged that security forces used disproportionate and unlawful force, including firing live ammunition indiscriminately at protesters. The agitation had led to the ouster of Oli's coalition government. The commission chief, Gauri Bahadur Karki, on Thursday told reporters that preparations were underway to seek clarification from CPN-UML chairperson and former prime minister Oli after the process of recording the statement of then home minister Ramesh Lekhak is completed. Karki said the commission is working

Nepal's former rapper to run for PM in key vote after Gen Z protests

Rapper turned-Kathmandu mayor Balendra Shah, aka Balen, a popular elected official, joined the RSP or national independent party, led by a former TV host-turned politician Rabi Lamichhane on Sunday

World@2025: Trump torrent and global tides drive an unpredictable year

The year unfolded unpredictably: Trade relations were upended, Trump's tariffs unsettled markets, GenZ took to the streets, Japan saw its first woman Prime Minister, and a museum was left poorer

Staying relevant to GenZ | From Panasonic’s Sales & Marketing guru

In this session, Sunil Narula, Senior Vice President- Sales & Marketing, PEWIN, Panasonic Life Solutions India, talks about how a legacy brand can stay relevant to GenZ, and provides career tips

Beyond being well: Teens and Gen Z redefine what it means to be healthy

A generation ago, friendship, beauty, community and dating mattered but weren't seen as "health". Today, these social and personal dimensions are increasingly viewed as integral to being healthy

Millennials, Gen Z lead 90% of India's outbound travel in 2025: Report

The year 2025 marked a defining shift in India's outbound travel landscape, with millennials and Gen Z leading nine out of 10 international trips, a new report has revealed. The annual travel report, released by travel-banking fintech platform Niyo, highlights how young, digital-first and experience-driven Indians are reshaping global travel trends through smarter planning, solo exploration and cost-conscious decision-making. Gen Z and Millennials accounted for 9 in 10 international trips. Two-thirds of these journeys originated from Delhi, Bengaluru and Mumbai, reflecting the strong influence of India's leading metros in outbound travel, the report findings said. Solo travel emerged as the dominant preference among Indian travellers, with 63.8 per cent of trips undertaken by individuals. Couples accounted for 19.93 per cent of trips, followed by families at 12.26 per cent and groups at 4.01 per cent, indicating a growing inclination towards independent travel. Short-haul Asian ...

Hotels, villas cash in as pet parents spend more on 'paw-cations'

Pet-inclusive accommodations, curated road trip packages on offer

IPL 2026 mini-auction wrap: Records broken, Gen Z bets, and big names left behind

The IPL 2026 mini auction is done, and all ten franchises have finalised their squads. From record-breaking overseas signings to uncapped Indian bets and quiet value buys,

How options trading became India's new smoking habit in derivatives boom

As smoking lost its cinematic allure, options trading too must be deglamourised through taxation, regulation and cultural signalling to curb risky "get rich quick" behaviour