Page 14 - EW February 2026

Education News

DELHI enforceable.
Supreme Court stays new equity regulations The new equity regulations,

which replaced the UGC (Promo-
tion of Equity in Higher Educational
Institutions) Regulations, 2012, were
notified on January 13 and effective
immediately, have raised an outcry
from general category (‘upper caste’)
students and faculty who highlight
that discrimination is not defined
which permits SC, ST and OBC
students to allege caste discrimina-
tion by non-protected (upper caste)
students in cases of mildest dis-
agreement or contention. Moreover,
complaints can be filed in the Equity
Committee anonymously. In such
cases, the committee is obliged to de-
mand an explanation from targeted
students and faculty. With the pos-
sibility of merit category/upper caste
Public protest against UGC Equity Regulations: “ambiguous and subject to misuse” students transforming into “targeted
minorities” on HEI campuses, a
n january 29, the supreme Committee presided by the princi- huge burden has been imposed on
Court of India stayed the pal/vice chancellor; an Equity Squad students accused of discrimination.
OUniversity Grants Commis- to police discrimination, an Equity Unsurprisingly, campus India
sion (Promotion of Equity in Higher Ambassador, and a 24×7 Equity responded with massive protests
Education Institutions) Regulations, Helpline. Complaints of discrimina- countrywide reviving fear of pro-
2026, following nationwide protests tion, harassment and caste slurs may tests of the mid-1980s, when several
against the regulations. Meanwhile, be submitted online, or in writing to students immolated themselves after
the apex court has restored the pre- the EOC coordinator, with the option the V.P. Singh government based on
vious 2012 regulations and posted of anonymity. the findings of the Mandal Report
the next hearing of the writ petition Non-compliance with s.3 (c) (1980) decreed an additional quota
against the 2026 regulations on provisions invites stringent penalties of 27 percent in government jobs and
March 19. against HEIs ranging from dis- HEIs for OBCs.
The new Equity Regulations, qualification from UGC schemes and Against the backdrop of massive
inspired by the National Education academic programmes (including protests breaking out countrywide,
Policy 2020’s commitment to “full ODL and online modes) to removal several writ petitions were filed in
equity and inclusion,” have broad- from the UGC-recognised list under the Supreme Court seeking a stay on
ened the ambit of the 2012 Regula- Sections 2 (f) and 12B of the UGC the new equity regulations. A bench
tions by holding institutional man- Act, 1956, plus other punitive action comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant
agements accountable for any and as decided by the Equity Committee. and Justice Joymalya Bagchi, or-
all discrimination against Scheduled The new 2026 equity regulations dered that the regulations be kept in
Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), differ from the 2012 regulations abeyance, observing that prima facie
and other backward castes/classes in being more comprehensive and some provisions of the impugned
(OBCs) and persons with disabilities. punitive. Coverage is extended to regulations were ambiguous and
In particular, s.3 (c) of the new regu- OBCs, gender minorities and persons subject to misuse. The bench further
lations prescribes heavy penalties with disabilities. Discrimination noted that the 2026 regulations
against higher education institutions practised against specified castes is “raised several constitutional and
(HEIs) and students for discrimina- extended beyond students to cover legal questions” that required further
tion against SCs, STs and OBCs. teaching and non-teaching staff as judicial scrutiny.
The 2026 Regulations mandate well as online and distance learners. “The poorly drafted 2026 regula-
every HEI to establish an Equal Moreover institutional penalties, tions have generated valid apprehen-
Opportunity Centre (EOC) with a which were mainly advisory in 2012, sions. In haste, without applying
faculty coordinator and an Equity are now explicit, well-defined and their minds, the UGC bureaucracy

14 EDUCATIONWORLD FEBRUARY 2026