Explained: Why the Supreme Court paused UGC’s new rules and what it means for students
Babushahi Bureau
New Delhi, January 29, 2026:The Supreme Court on Thursday put a temporary hold on the University Grants Commission’s (UGC) Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions Regulations, 2026, following nationwide protests and multiple legal challenges.
What are the new UGC rules?
The regulations, notified in January 2026, were aimed at preventing caste-based discrimination in colleges and universities. They proposed:
- Special grievance redressal committees in institutions
- Dedicated helplines for complaints
- A focus on protecting students from Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST) and Other Backward Classes (OBCs)
These rules were meant to replace the existing 2012 UGC regulations on the same issue.
Why did the Supreme Court intervene?
Several petitioners argued that the new framework was vague, arbitrary and unconstitutional, and violated the UGC Act, 1956. The Supreme Court agreed to an extent, flagging serious concerns—particularly with Regulation 3(C), which defines caste-based discrimination.
The Court observed that the language of this provision was unclear and open to misuse, noting that it needed reworking. Until further orders, the Court ruled that the 2012 UGC regulations will continue to remain in force.
Why are students protesting?
The regulations triggered strong opposition from general category students across the country. Protesters claim:
- The rules could lead to reverse discrimination
- There is no assured representation of general category students in the proposed mechanisms
- The framework may create inequality instead of promoting fairness on campuses
Protests were reported at Delhi University’s North Campus and in Lucknow, where students gathered outside Lucknow University demanding the withdrawal of the rules.
Government’s response
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan attempted to calm tensions, assuring that the regulations would not be misused and that no student would face discrimination.
“There will be no misuse of the law. No one should feel discriminated against,” Pradhan said.
The controversy has also spilled into political circles. Shyam Sundar Tripathi, Vice President of the BJP Kisan Morcha from Rae Bareli’s Salon constituency, resigned from his post, expressing strong opposition to the UGC’s new policies. In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he described the regulations as divisive and harmful to social harmony.
With the Supreme Court’s stay in place, universities will continue to follow the 2012 regulations while the legal challenge is heard. The case is likely to shape how equity and anti-discrimination policies are framed in higher education going forward.