What is the story about?
The University Grants Commission (UGC) is in the eye of a storm. The statutory body’s new guidelines to prevent caste-based discrimination in colleges and universities have triggered an uproar among “upper-caste” communities, who claim the new rules are exclusionary.
Now, a plea has been filed before the Supreme Court against the newly enacted University Grants Commission (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2026. The new rules have also led to protests nationwide by people and groups from the general category.
But why is there such opposition? We will explain.
The UGC notified the University Grants Commission (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2026, on January 13, revising its 2012 anti-discrimination regulations.
The new rules defined “caste-based discrimination” as discrimination “only on the basis of caste or tribe” against members of the Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and Other Backward Classes (OBCs).
“Equity” has been defined as providing a level playing field for all stakeholders in terms of rights and opportunities.
Under the new regulations, every Higher Education Institution (HEI) has to establish Equal Opportunity Centres (EOCs) to support disadvantaged groups, offer academic and social counselling, and promote campus diversity.
Equity Committees must be set up to handle complaints of discrimination. These committees must include representation from SCs, STs, OBCs, women and persons with disabilities.
Equity Squads will be responsible for monitoring vulnerable spaces on campus. Equity Ambassadors will act as nodal points in hostels, departments, and libraries.
Colleges and universities must also take preventive and protective steps, including setting up helplines, monitoring systems, and regularly reporting to the UGC.
The body has placed the onus on institutional heads, including vice-chancellors and principals, for the implementation of the latest rules. They are required to ensure compliance and submit reports to the UGC.
Higher education institutions that fail to comply with the guidelines could face penalties, such as denial of approval for academic programmes, exclusion from UGC schemes or even withdrawal of recognition.
The UGC has said that caste-based discrimination in campuses has surged in recent years. As per the body, complaints of caste-based discrimination increased 118.4 per cent in five years, from 173 cases in 2019–20 to 378 in 2023-24.
Overall, 1,160 complaints were received from 704 universities and 1,553 colleges during this period.
The UGC has cited this data to stress the need for stronger institutional safeguards for oppressed castes. It argues that its new rules will help curb caste-based discrimination on campuses and ensure a safe, dignified and inclusive academic environment for students, teachers and non-teaching staff.
The new guidelines come after directions from the Supreme Court, asking the UGC to submit revised rules while hearing a petition related to the implementation of the 2012 UGC anti-discrimination regulations.
The PIL in the top court was filed by Radhika Vemula and Abeda Salim Tadvi, mothers of Rohith Vemula and Payal Tadvi, respectively, seeking a mechanism to end caste-based discrimination on campuses. Rohit Vemula and Payal Tadvi had died by suicide, allegedly after facing caste-discrimination in their respective universities.
The regulations were notified by the statutory body, which comes under the Ministry of Education, in January to prevent discrimination in higher education institutions and ensure timely redressal of complaints.
ALSO READ: ‘What’s your JEE score?’: Why IIT-Bombay doesn’t want students asking this question
The UGC’s equity guidelines have stirred the pot. Opponents of the regulations claim that they are not inclusive, as the definition excludes students from the general category. They also say that the new rules do not safeguard “upper-caste” students from “false complaints” and would lead to a presumption of guilt against them.
From politicians, student bodies, to even bureaucrats, people from several walks of life have spoken against the new UGC rules.
Rajya Sabha MP Priyanka Chaturvedi called for the equity regulations to be “withdrawn or amended as necessary”. She asked on social media whether the provisions should not be “inclusive and ensure equal protection for everyone,” adding, “Then why is this discrimination in the implementation of the law? What happens in case of false accusations? How will guilt be determined? How should discrimination be defined—through words, actions, or perceptions?”
Uttar Pradesh Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLC Devendra Pratap Singh has written to the UGC, saying it should concern itself with protecting Dalits and backward class students against discrimination, and not with “making general category students feel unsafe. “The framed regulations could widen the caste-centric division and disturb the social balance,” he wrote in the letter, as per The Hindu. He further argued that equity is necessary, but it should not result in the marginalisation of any section of students.
Nearly a dozen local BJP members in Lucknow have submitted resignations from the party over it.
Many student bodies have also expressed opposition to the new UGC rules. The students’ union of Kumaun University in Uttarakhand’s Nainital has sent a letter to the UGC, saying that the regulations oppose the “principle of natural justice”. The letter, submitted through the Vice-Chancellor of the University, said that these regulations may disturb the “balance” at university campuses and could create an atmosphere of “fear and distrust”, and warned against the regulations’ potential “misuse”.
There are concerns that the latest rules do not ensure "interim confidentiality for respondents, counselling support during the inquiry, or mechanisms to repair reputational harm if allegations are ultimately not upheld", as per Times of India (TOI).
The focus on submitting reports within fixed timelines has raised questions about whether speed would compromise fairness. It could also overburden the already stretched administrative system at state universities and affiliated colleges, the newspaper noted.
Amid the row, some anti-caste activists have said the UGC regulations are inadequate as they do not protect the Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe, and Other Backward Classes strongly enough from discrimination.
Nethrapal, a serving IRS officer, posted on X that the 2026 regulations do not include specific forms of discrimination that SC, ST, and OBC students are subjected to during higher education processes like admissions, interviews and oral examinations. He also alleged that omnibus equity committees would be incapable of properly addressing specific discriminations faced by SC/ST students.
A plea has now been filed in the Supreme Court against the UGC equity guidelines.
The petitioner, Advocate Vineet Jindal, has argued that regulation 3(c) of the UGC rules is "non-inclusionary" and fails to protect students and faculty who are not from reserved categories. He stated that the current framework denies grievance redressal and institutional protection to persons belonging to non-SC/ST/OBC categories.
The petitioner urged the top court to bar authorities from enforcing regulation 3(c) in its current form, seeking a direction to redefine caste-based discrimination in a "caste-neutral and constitutionally-compliant manner."
Another writ petition challenging the University Grants Commission (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2026, was filed in the Supreme Court by Mrityunjay Tiwari, a post-doctoral researcher at the Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Uttar Pradesh.
Protests are being organised across India by upper-caste groups against the latest guidelines. Lucknow University students staged a demonstration against the new rules on Tuesday (January 27).
In Jaipur, Hindu groups such as the Karni Sena, Brahmin Mahasabha, Kayastha Mahasabha and various Vaishya organisations have come together under the banner of the Savarna Samaj Coordination Committee (S-4) to oppose the UGC equity rules.
A section of students from upper-caste communities also called for a protest outside the University Grants Commission headquarters in Delhi on Tuesday, saying that the new rules could cause "chaos" on campuses. Appealing for unity from the student community, they asked them to say "No to UGC discrimination".
Speaking to PTI, Alokit Tripathi, a PhD student from Delhi University, claimed that the new rules will lead to "complete chaos" in colleges as the burden of proof will now be completely shifted onto the accused.
"The new regulations are draconian in nature. The definition of victim is already predetermined. Victim can be anyone in the campus," Tripathi said.
"With the proposed Equity squads, it will be akin to living under constant surveillance inside the campus," he added.
Meanwhile, Bareilly City Magistrate Alank Agnihotri, a 2019-batch Provincial Services Officer, resigned on Monday (January 26), calling the UGC rules a "black law". He called for the immediate rollback of the new guidelines, which he claimed could foment caste-based discontent on campuses.
The opposition has criticised the ruling BJP over Agnihotri's resignation.
The Central government has decided to step in as the controversy over the UGC rules has snowballed. Top sources told NDTV that the government will present "facts" to counter "misinformation" being spread by the opposition over the UGC guidelines. Sources also said misuse of the rules "will not be allowed, under any circumstances".
As per News18 sources, the government will also assure the critics that the regulations will not be misused under any circumstances.
Earlier, BJP MP from Jharkhand Nishikant Dubey said on social media that “all misconceptions” about the new regulations would soon be addressed. He also pointed out that it was the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government that introduced a 10 per cent reservation for economically weaker sections (EWS) among “poor Savarnas”. He said, “As long as Modi ji is there, no harm will come to the children of the upper castes.”
With inputs from agencies
Now, a plea has been filed before the Supreme Court against the newly enacted University Grants Commission (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2026. The new rules have also led to protests nationwide by people and groups from the general category.
But why is there such opposition? We will explain.
UGC’s new equity regulations
The UGC notified the University Grants Commission (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2026, on January 13, revising its 2012 anti-discrimination regulations.
The new rules defined “caste-based discrimination” as discrimination “only on the basis of caste or tribe” against members of the Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and Other Backward Classes (OBCs).
“Equity” has been defined as providing a level playing field for all stakeholders in terms of rights and opportunities.
Under the new regulations, every Higher Education Institution (HEI) has to establish Equal Opportunity Centres (EOCs) to support disadvantaged groups, offer academic and social counselling, and promote campus diversity.
Equity Committees must be set up to handle complaints of discrimination. These committees must include representation from SCs, STs, OBCs, women and persons with disabilities.
Equity Squads will be responsible for monitoring vulnerable spaces on campus. Equity Ambassadors will act as nodal points in hostels, departments, and libraries.
Colleges and universities must also take preventive and protective steps, including setting up helplines, monitoring systems, and regularly reporting to the UGC.
The body has placed the onus on institutional heads, including vice-chancellors and principals, for the implementation of the latest rules. They are required to ensure compliance and submit reports to the UGC.
Higher education institutions that fail to comply with the guidelines could face penalties, such as denial of approval for academic programmes, exclusion from UGC schemes or even withdrawal of recognition.
Why UGC has updated equity rules
The UGC has said that caste-based discrimination in campuses has surged in recent years. As per the body, complaints of caste-based discrimination increased 118.4 per cent in five years, from 173 cases in 2019–20 to 378 in 2023-24.
Overall, 1,160 complaints were received from 704 universities and 1,553 colleges during this period.
The UGC has cited this data to stress the need for stronger institutional safeguards for oppressed castes. It argues that its new rules will help curb caste-based discrimination on campuses and ensure a safe, dignified and inclusive academic environment for students, teachers and non-teaching staff.
The new guidelines come after directions from the Supreme Court, asking the UGC to submit revised rules while hearing a petition related to the implementation of the 2012 UGC anti-discrimination regulations.
The PIL in the top court was filed by Radhika Vemula and Abeda Salim Tadvi, mothers of Rohith Vemula and Payal Tadvi, respectively, seeking a mechanism to end caste-based discrimination on campuses. Rohit Vemula and Payal Tadvi had died by suicide, allegedly after facing caste-discrimination in their respective universities.
The regulations were notified by the statutory body, which comes under the Ministry of Education, in January to prevent discrimination in higher education institutions and ensure timely redressal of complaints.
ALSO READ: ‘What’s your JEE score?’: Why IIT-Bombay doesn’t want students asking this question
Controversy over UGC guidelines
The UGC’s equity guidelines have stirred the pot. Opponents of the regulations claim that they are not inclusive, as the definition excludes students from the general category. They also say that the new rules do not safeguard “upper-caste” students from “false complaints” and would lead to a presumption of guilt against them.
From politicians, student bodies, to even bureaucrats, people from several walks of life have spoken against the new UGC rules.
Rajya Sabha MP Priyanka Chaturvedi called for the equity regulations to be “withdrawn or amended as necessary”. She asked on social media whether the provisions should not be “inclusive and ensure equal protection for everyone,” adding, “Then why is this discrimination in the implementation of the law? What happens in case of false accusations? How will guilt be determined? How should discrimination be defined—through words, actions, or perceptions?”
Uttar Pradesh Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLC Devendra Pratap Singh has written to the UGC, saying it should concern itself with protecting Dalits and backward class students against discrimination, and not with “making general category students feel unsafe. “The framed regulations could widen the caste-centric division and disturb the social balance,” he wrote in the letter, as per The Hindu. He further argued that equity is necessary, but it should not result in the marginalisation of any section of students.
Nearly a dozen local BJP members in Lucknow have submitted resignations from the party over it.
Many student bodies have also expressed opposition to the new UGC rules. The students’ union of Kumaun University in Uttarakhand’s Nainital has sent a letter to the UGC, saying that the regulations oppose the “principle of natural justice”. The letter, submitted through the Vice-Chancellor of the University, said that these regulations may disturb the “balance” at university campuses and could create an atmosphere of “fear and distrust”, and warned against the regulations’ potential “misuse”.
There are concerns that the latest rules do not ensure "interim confidentiality for respondents, counselling support during the inquiry, or mechanisms to repair reputational harm if allegations are ultimately not upheld", as per Times of India (TOI).
The focus on submitting reports within fixed timelines has raised questions about whether speed would compromise fairness. It could also overburden the already stretched administrative system at state universities and affiliated colleges, the newspaper noted.
Amid the row, some anti-caste activists have said the UGC regulations are inadequate as they do not protect the Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe, and Other Backward Classes strongly enough from discrimination.
Nethrapal, a serving IRS officer, posted on X that the 2026 regulations do not include specific forms of discrimination that SC, ST, and OBC students are subjected to during higher education processes like admissions, interviews and oral examinations. He also alleged that omnibus equity committees would be incapable of properly addressing specific discriminations faced by SC/ST students.
A plea has now been filed in the Supreme Court against the UGC equity guidelines.
The petitioner, Advocate Vineet Jindal, has argued that regulation 3(c) of the UGC rules is "non-inclusionary" and fails to protect students and faculty who are not from reserved categories. He stated that the current framework denies grievance redressal and institutional protection to persons belonging to non-SC/ST/OBC categories.
The petitioner urged the top court to bar authorities from enforcing regulation 3(c) in its current form, seeking a direction to redefine caste-based discrimination in a "caste-neutral and constitutionally-compliant manner."
Another writ petition challenging the University Grants Commission (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2026, was filed in the Supreme Court by Mrityunjay Tiwari, a post-doctoral researcher at the Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Uttar Pradesh.
Protests are being organised across India by upper-caste groups against the latest guidelines. Lucknow University students staged a demonstration against the new rules on Tuesday (January 27).
VIDEO | Lucknow University students hold protest against the new rules notified by the UGC, the Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions Regulations, 2026.
(Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvrpG7)#Lucknow pic.twitter.com/bqvHqXxcOe
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) January 27, 2026
In Jaipur, Hindu groups such as the Karni Sena, Brahmin Mahasabha, Kayastha Mahasabha and various Vaishya organisations have come together under the banner of the Savarna Samaj Coordination Committee (S-4) to oppose the UGC equity rules.
A section of students from upper-caste communities also called for a protest outside the University Grants Commission headquarters in Delhi on Tuesday, saying that the new rules could cause "chaos" on campuses. Appealing for unity from the student community, they asked them to say "No to UGC discrimination".
Speaking to PTI, Alokit Tripathi, a PhD student from Delhi University, claimed that the new rules will lead to "complete chaos" in colleges as the burden of proof will now be completely shifted onto the accused.
"The new regulations are draconian in nature. The definition of victim is already predetermined. Victim can be anyone in the campus," Tripathi said.
"With the proposed Equity squads, it will be akin to living under constant surveillance inside the campus," he added.
Meanwhile, Bareilly City Magistrate Alank Agnihotri, a 2019-batch Provincial Services Officer, resigned on Monday (January 26), calling the UGC rules a "black law". He called for the immediate rollback of the new guidelines, which he claimed could foment caste-based discontent on campuses.
The opposition has criticised the ruling BJP over Agnihotri's resignation.
Centre to step in amid controversy
The Central government has decided to step in as the controversy over the UGC rules has snowballed. Top sources told NDTV that the government will present "facts" to counter "misinformation" being spread by the opposition over the UGC guidelines. Sources also said misuse of the rules "will not be allowed, under any circumstances".
As per News18 sources, the government will also assure the critics that the regulations will not be misused under any circumstances.
#BreakingNews | Centre to issue a detailed clarification regarding the misinformation about new UGC rules: Top Govt sources @payalmehta100 shares more details@SimranBabbar_05 and Nitika report from protest locations#UGCRegulations #UGC | @GrihaAtul pic.twitter.com/5Lri17SCcg
— News18 (@CNNnews18) January 27, 2026
Earlier, BJP MP from Jharkhand Nishikant Dubey said on social media that “all misconceptions” about the new regulations would soon be addressed. He also pointed out that it was the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government that introduced a 10 per cent reservation for economically weaker sections (EWS) among “poor Savarnas”. He said, “As long as Modi ji is there, no harm will come to the children of the upper castes.”
With inputs from agencies
