What’s Behind the UGC's New Regulations? Protests Erupt Across Campuses!
Protests Erupt Over UGC's New Regulations
New Delhi/Bareilly (UP): On Tuesday, the government reassured that the newly introduced UGC regulations aimed at combating caste discrimination would not be exploited, emphasizing that no student would face discrimination. This statement came as students protested, fearing that these regulations might incite disorder on college campuses.
In a related incident, the Uttar Pradesh government suspended Bareilly City Magistrate Alankar Agnihotri for indiscipline after he resigned in protest against government policies, particularly the new UGC rules. He has since staged a sit-in at the collectorate, claiming a conspiracy against him.
The regulations, which require all higher education institutions to establish "equity committees" to address discrimination complaints and promote fairness, were officially announced on January 13.
The University Grants Commission (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2026, stipulate that these committees must include representatives from Other Backward Classes (OBCs), Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), individuals with disabilities, and women.
These new guidelines replace the previous UGC (Promotion of Equity in Higher Educational Institutions) Regulations from 2012, which were primarily advisory.
In response to student protests across various states, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan assured that there would be no discrimination and that the regulations would not be misused.
"I want to assure everyone that no one will face harassment, and there will be no misuse of these regulations in the name of discrimination," he stated.
Despite heavy barricades and rain, students from colleges in Delhi gathered outside the UGC headquarters, voicing concerns that the new regulations could lead to chaos on campuses.
They presented a list of demands to the UGC, including a complete rollback of the regulations.
"UGC officials acknowledged our submission and agreed to discuss some of our demands," said Alokit Tripathi, a PhD student from Delhi University.
"They indicated they would consider appointing a member from the general community to the Equity Squad and promised a solution within 15 days, before February 12. Additionally, they mentioned that the identity of the accuser would not be kept confidential to prevent false complaints," Tripathi added.
Meanwhile, the Left-backed student group All India Students' Association expressed support for the UGC Equity Regulations, 2026, welcoming the inclusion of OBCs in equity protections.
"However, the representation of SC, ST, OBC, and women in the Equity Committee remains insufficient and poorly defined. Furthermore, the regulations describe discrimination in vague terms without specifying concrete acts," their statement read.
Following his suspension, Agnihotri was reassigned to the office of the Shamli district magistrate, as per an order issued on Monday night.
The 2019-batch Provincial Civil Service officer had resigned on Republic Day, citing profound disagreements with government policies. He argued that the UGC regulations could incite caste-based unrest and disrupt the academic environment.
On Tuesday, he escalated his protest against the state government and district administration, staging a sit-in outside the district magistrate's office with supporters, chanting slogans against the administration.
In his resignation letter, Agnihotri labeled the new UGC regulations as a "black law," claiming they jeopardized the academic atmosphere in colleges and universities and demanded their immediate repeal.
Additionally, a petition was filed in the Supreme Court challenging the regulations, alleging that the UGC has adopted a non-inclusive definition of caste-based discrimination, excluding certain groups from institutional protection.
The petition urged the Supreme Court to prevent the enforcement of the regulations in their current form and called for a redefinition of caste-based discrimination in a "caste-neutral and constitutionally-compliant manner."
The UGC's new document was issued following a Supreme Court directive to submit updated regulations while addressing a plea from the mothers of Rohith Vemula and Payal Tadvi, who questioned the implementation of the 2012 UGC regulations.
Vemula, a PhD scholar at the University of Hyderabad, tragically took his life in 2016 after reportedly facing caste-based harassment. Tadvi, a resident doctor at Topiwala National Medical College and BYL Nair Hospital, also ended her life in 2019, allegedly due to casteist remarks from her seniors.