RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat to engage Gen Z at IIMUN Mumbai on 6 August
Synopsis
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat steps into a charged national conversation on youth and education — meeting over 2,000 Gen Z students in Mumbai on 6 August at the IIMUN conference, days after NEET protests reshaped education policy and forced a minister's resignation. His message: the era of obedience is over, and India's older institutions must learn to listen.
Key Takeaways
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat will address Gen Z and Gen Alpha representatives in Mumbai on 6 August .
The event is the inaugural session of the I.I.M.U.N.
15th Annual Championship Conference , drawing over 2,000 students from 100+ cities .
The interaction follows nationwide NEET paper leak protests that led to the Public Examinations Amendment Bill, 2026 and the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan .
Bhagwat has described Gen Z as 'inherently good' but prone to reacting without a 'calm mind', and called for family dialogue over top-down authority.
PM Modi also addressed youth unrest, publicly forgiving protesters who directed abusive remarks at him during the Jantar Mantar demonstrations.
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat is set to interact with Generation Z and Generation Alpha representatives in Mumbai on 6 August, inaugurating the 15th Annual Championship Conference of India's International Movement to Unite Nations (I.I.M.U.N.). The session will bring together more than 2,000 high school students, aged 15 to 19, drawn from over 100 cities across India.
About the IIMUN Conference
Organised around the theme 'The Role of Youth in Uniting the World, the Indian Way', the multi-day conference provides a platform for young leaders to deliberate on local, national, and international affairs. Bhagwat's address will formally commence the event, kicking off a series of student-led debates and policy discussions.
I.I.M.U.N. Founder Rishabh Shah underscored the importance of two-way engagement, saying: 'Leadership is not only about guiding the next generation, but also listening to it. At this critical juncture in India's journey, we need this dialogue more than ever before.'
Backdrop: NEET Protests and Education Reforms
The interaction comes against a charged national backdrop. The Cockroach Janata Party had led nationwide protests demanding reforms in the education sector following the NEET paper leak controversy. The agitation wound down after the government offered assurances, passed the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, and accepted the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Notably, the protests also saw Prime Minister Narendra Modi release a video message addressing 'abusive remarks' directed at him and his late mother by some young demonstrators at Delhi's Jantar Mantar. Modi explicitly stated, 'I want to forgive those who abused me. I request society to accept my decision.' He acknowledged that while the language was a 'cultural shock' to society, young people make mistakes and deserve an opportunity to learn from them — calling for guidance over retribution.
Bhagwat's View on Gen Z
In a recent address, Bhagwat described Gen Z as inherently good, adaptable, and emotional, while cautioning that young people often react without a 'calm mind.' He noted that youth are easily drawn to causes that appear 'visibly authentic', which significantly shapes their participation in social and political movements.
Bhagwat emphasised that the 'era of obedience' is over, calling on families to replace top-down authority with open dialogue and consensus-building through real conversation. He also voiced serious concern over screen addiction, urging parents to model responsible digital behaviour by reducing their own social media use — rather than relying on laws or government regulations alone.
Why This Interaction Matters
The RSS chief's direct engagement with India's youngest generation carries significance beyond ceremony. With youth-led protests having recently reshaped the political discourse around education policy, Bhagwat's outreach signals an institutional effort to understand — and influence — the values driving Gen Z activism. The conversation between one of India's most influential ideological figures and a new generation of student leaders will be closely watched for its tone and takeaways.
Point of View
But it also reveals the anxiety of an organisation whose top-down model of social influence is being tested by a generation that does not defer by default. His call for parental modelling on screen use, rather than legislative fixes, is a notable departure from the institutional reflex to regulate. Whether this translates into a genuine two-way dialogue — or remains a managed interaction — will determine whether the session moves the needle on RSS's resonance with India's youngest citizens.
NationPress
3 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat meeting Gen Z students in Mumbai?
Bhagwat is set to inaugurate the I.I.M.U.N. 15th Annual Championship Conference in Mumbai on 6 August, where he will interact with over 2,000 high school students aged 15 to 19 from across India. The session is themed around the role of youth in uniting the world the Indian way.
What is I.I.M.U.N. and what does the conference involve?
India's International Movement to Unite Nations (I.I.M.U.N.) is a youth-focused organisation that hosts student-led conferences modelled on global diplomacy forums. The 15th Annual Championship Conference brings together students from over 100 cities for multi-day debates and policy discussions on local, national, and international issues.
How does the NEET controversy connect to Bhagwat's Gen Z interaction?
Nationwide protests over the NEET paper leak — which led to the passage of the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 and Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation — have put youth activism at the centre of national politics. Bhagwat's engagement with young students is being seen in this context, as a response to the broader youth unrest.
What has Bhagwat said about Gen Z previously?
In a recent address, Bhagwat called Gen Z inherently good, adaptable, and emotional, but cautioned that they often react without a calm mind. He urged families to replace top-down authority with open dialogue, declared the 'era of obedience' over, and called on parents to model responsible social media behaviour.
What did PM Modi say about the youth protesters during the NEET agitation?
PM Modi released a video message stating, 'I want to forgive those who abused me. I request society to accept my decision,' after some young protesters directed abusive remarks at him and his late mother at Delhi's Jantar Mantar. He described the language as a 'cultural shock' but called for guidance over retribution, saying young people deserve a chance to learn from their mistakes.
