Centre to reconsider UGC equity rules flagged as ‘vague’, capable of ‘misuse’ by Supreme Court
The UGC Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions Regulations, 2026 were aimed at preventing discrimination in universities and colleges.
The Supreme Court has instructed the Centre and the University Grants Commission (UGC) to reevaluate the University Grants Commission’s (UGC) 2026 regulations on promoting equity in higher educational institutions. The court had initially stayed the regulations in January due to their perceived "vagueness" and potential for "misuse."
The regulations, which were framed following a 2019 petition from the parents of two students who died by suicide due to alleged caste-based discrimination, have been under scrutiny for their potential to disproportionately affect general category students and the lack of a mechanism to penalize false complaints made by Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta stated that the government is reviewing the regulations, and the court has given the Centre and UGC a six-week deadline to file a comprehensive affidavit addressing the concerns raised in the petitions. The matter will be heard after the next date of hearing, with both the Centre and UGC granted additional time to respond.
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