Uproar intensifies againstnew UGC equity regulations
Uproar has intensified against the University Grants Commission's (UGC) newly notified Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions Regulations, 2026. Notified on January 13, 2026, the rules are intended to address rising caste-based discrimination on campuses but have sparked significant backlash from students and political figures.
Key Reasons for the Uproar
Critics and protesters cite several major concerns:
- Asymmetric Protection: The regulations define "caste-based discrimination" specifically as actions against members of SC, ST, and OBC communities. General category students argue this is exclusionary and leaves them without institutional protection from similar harassment.
- Lack of Safeguards: Unlike the 2025 draft, the final 2026 rules removed penalties for false complaints. Protesters fear this lack of deterrence will lead to the misuse of the rules to target innocent students.
- Draconian Enforcement: The rules mandate the creation of "Equity Squads" and "Equity Ambassadors" to monitor "vulnerable spaces" like hostels and libraries. Some students have described this as living under "constant surveillance".
- Presumption of Guilt: Critics argue that Rule 3(c) effectively shifts the burden of proof onto the accused, violating the principles of natural justice.
Current Developments (January 2026)
- Nationwide Protests: Students, particularly from the "Savarna Sena," have staged massive demonstrations outside the UGC Headquarters in Delhi.
- Political Resignations: High-profile resignations have occurred in protest, including Bareilly City Magistrate Alankar Agnihotri, who called the rules a "black law". Several local BJP leaders in Uttar Pradesh have also stepped down over the issue.
- Legal Challenges: A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Supreme Court, challenging Regulation 3(c) as arbitrary and unconstitutional under Articles 14, 19, and 21.
- Government Response: The Central Government has consulted legal experts, including the Attorney General, and has promised a detailed clarification to address "misinformation". BJP MP Nishikant Dubey assured that the government would protect the interests of all, including poor upper-caste students.
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