The University Grants Commission’s (UGC) new rules on equity in higher education have triggered widespread debate and protests across the country, with demonstrations being held in Delhi outside UGC’s
office on Tuesday. The regulations, titled Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions Regulations, 2026, aim to prevent caste-based discrimination on campuses.
Government sources said the Education Ministry is likely to issue a detailed clarification soon to counter what it described as misinformation surrounding the new rules. According to sources, the government will also assure that the regulations will not be misused under any circumstances and that attempts to create confusion will not be tolerated.
The issue has gained political traction ahead of the Parliament Budget session, with the opposition seeking to raise it as a major concern. The matter has also reached the Supreme Court, where a plea challenging the regulations is expected to be listed for an early hearing.
What The UGC Rules Say?
The UGC said the regulations were framed to address caste-based discrimination in universities and colleges. Citing official data, the commission noted that complaints of discrimination against SC, ST and OBC students rose by 118.4 percent over the past five years, from 173 in 2019-20 to 378 in 2023-24, highlighting the need for a structured grievance redressal mechanism.
Under the new framework, every university and college must set up an equity committee. The committee will include members from SC, ST and OBC categories, women and persons with disabilities, and will be tasked with resolving complaints within a fixed timeline and promoting an inclusive campus environment.
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Why Students Are Protesting?
Sections of students from the general category have opposed the rules, alleging that they are one-sided and could be misused. Protesters argue that the regulations focus only on discrimination against reserved categories and do not recognise complaints from general category students, raising fears of false cases.
A petition challenging the rules has been filed in the Supreme Court, with the petitioners arguing that the regulations go against the spirit of equal opportunity in higher education.
