Pakistan, Aug. 11 -- Thousands of young Indians marched towards the Jharkhand legislature on Monday, protesting alleged irregularities in civil-service recruitment examinations. Yet, just weeks after the massive "cockroach" protests, police again reached for water cannon, tear gas and batons. The agitation had already run for more than two weeks. Six protesters were reportedly on hunger strike. Ranchi may be the latest flashpoint, but the anger it represents has been travelling across India for some time.

Only weeks ago, Delhi witnessed the extraordinary rise of the self-styled Cockroach Janta Party, a youth movement born from fury over examination leaks, unemployment and an education system in which years of preparation can be erased by...