Amid the uproar over University Grants Commission’s Equality Promotion Regulations in Higher Educational Institutions, 2026, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Tuesday assured that there will be fair implementation of UGC 2026 rules.
“I assure everyone there will be no discrimination and no one can misuse the law," Pradhan told reporters.
He emphasised that the regulations aimed at promoting fairness and equity in higher education, and urged educational institutions to implement them responsibly.
The remarks come amid protests outside the Commission headquarters, expressing concerns that the newly issued regulations might cause disruption on campuses.
A recently notified regulation governing the country’s higher education system has triggered a sharp political and social debate, spilling from university campuses onto the streets and social media platforms.
The UGC, India’s apex body responsible for maintaining standards, equity and quality in higher education, notified the regulations on January 15, 2026. According to the UGC, the objective of the new framework is to curb caste-based discrimination on campuses and to ensure a safe, dignified and inclusive academic environment for students, teachers and non-teaching staff.
A key shift introduced by the regulations is the formal inclusion of the Other Backward Classes (OBC) within the scope of caste-based discrimination. Until now, institutional mechanisms largely addressed complaints related to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
Under the new rules, OBC students and employees are explicitly empowered to file complaints of harassment or discrimination, a move the UGC describes as a corrective step reflecting ground realities.
The regulations also mandate structural changes across universities and colleges. In addition, a university-level Equality Committee must be constituted, with representation from OBCs, women, SCs, STs and persons with disabilities. This committee is required to submit a report to the UGC every six months, a measure the regulator says will improve transparency, monitoring and institutional accountability.
The University Grants Commission’s Equality Promotion Regulations in Higher Educational Institutions, 2026 have been hailed by supporters as a landmark move towards social justice, while drawing strong opposition from several upper-caste organisations across the country.
The controversy has acquired political overtones, particularly with the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections scheduled for 2027, turning what was intended as an academic reform into a broader ideological contest.
Several upper-caste organisations have argued that the provisions are vulnerable to misuse and could lead to false complaints against students and faculty from their communities. In Jaipur, groups including the Karni Sena, Brahmin Mahasabha, Kayastha Mahasabha and various Vaishya organisations have come together under the banner of the Savarna Samaj Coordination Committee (S-4) to oppose the move.
Several upper-caste YouTubers, influencers and activists have labelled the regulations as “anti-upper caste". The controversy gained traction after a video by Swami Anand Swaroop, calling for unity among upper-caste groups, went viral. On the other side, advocates of social justice have defended the regulations as a long-overdue reform aimed at ensuring dignity and equal opportunity within educational institutions.
The UGC has backed its position with data. Figures submitted to Parliament and the Supreme Court show that complaints related to caste discrimination in higher education have risen by 118.4% over the past five years. While 173 complaints were recorded in 2019-20, the number increased to 378 in 2023-24. In total, 1,160 complaints were received from 704 universities and 1,553 colleges during this period. The regulator cites these numbers as evidence of persistent discrimination and the need for stronger institutional safeguards.
