The Centre on Thursday (August 20) told the Supreme Court that it is reconsidering and reassessing key provisions of the controversial University Grants
Commission (UGC) Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions Regulations, 2026. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta sought four weeks' time to file an affidavit before the court, stating that the government is currently reviewing the regulations. The Supreme Court has accepted SG Tushar Mehta's request and has given the Centre four weeks to submit its affidavit. The court also asked all parties to file their written submissions. "Ok we will give time. All sides file written submissions. Centre shall file affidavit in four weeks," CJI stated. The development came as the Supreme Court resumed hearing a batch of petitions challenging the 2026 UGC regulations. The regulations in question were notified by the UGC in January 2026 and are aimed at promoting equity and addressing discrimination in higher educational institutions. The UGC continues to list the 2026 regulations on its official website. Petitioners have raised concerns over the provisions of the regulations, alleging that they are discriminatory towards students belonging to the general category. One of the key objections relates to the definition of “caste-based discrimination”, with petitioners arguing that students from non-reserved or general categories could be left without an adequate remedy if they face caste-based discrimination or institutional bias. Amidst intense nationwide protests, SC had on January 29 stayed the UGC’s Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions Regulations, 2026, directing the Central Government to review and redraft them due to concerns over their legality and potential for misuse. The regulations, which were aimed at curbing caste-based discrimination, were found to be "vague" and potentially discriminatory towards the general category, with the Court ordering that the 2012 Regulations remain in effect until the next hearing on March 19, 2026. "If we don’t intervene, it will have a dangerous impact, divide society, and have grave consequences," CJI Surya Kant had said staying the regulations on January 29. With the Centre now undertaking a fresh review of the regulations, the Supreme Court is expected to consider the government's affidavit and the proposed changes before deciding the future course of the 2026 framework.
