# Student protests put economy, accountability at centre 2026-08-14T06:13:29+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet In the past month, student-led protests have shifted India’s public conversation from religious and nationalist themes to economic concerns such as unemployment, rising living costs, and education quality, writes Frontline. The protests demand accountability for systemic failures like paper leaks and corruption. Even diehard supporters of the Modi government now concede a loss of public goodwill, the report says. India’s GDP per capita of $2,800 trails Bangladesh, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines. Food inflation rose 5.5% and transport inflation above 7% in July, while household debt is climbing and savings falling. The protests have also exposed deep public distrust of mainstream media, which many see as compromised. ## Coverage - frontline.thehindu.com Tags: accountability, economy, India, media criticism, middle class, student protests Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/student-protests-put-economy-accountability-at-centre/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/student-protests-put-economy-accountability-at-centre/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.