The University Grants Commission (UGC) has sparked a nationwide controversy with the notification of its new 'Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institution Regulations, 2026', while the regulations, aimed at curbing caste-based discrimination in colleges and universities, have met with stiff resistance from general category students and various upper-caste organizations, particularly in Uttar Pradesh and Delhi.
Protests and Unique Demonstrations in Uttar Pradesh
In several districts of Uttar Pradesh, including Lucknow, Raebareli, Varanasi, and Prayagraj, the youth have taken to the streets. A symbolic protest occurred in Raebareli where BJP Kisan leader Ramesh Bahadur Singh and Gau Raksha Dal President Mahendra Pandey sent bangles to upper-caste Members of Parliament. This act was intended to criticize the perceived silence of political representatives on rules that protesters claim are biased against the general category.
Resignations and Social Media Outrage
The administrative impact of the protest was felt in Bareilly, where City Magistrate Alankar Agnihotri reportedly resigned from his post in protest against the new UGC guidelines. Meanwhile, renowned poet Dr. Kumar Vishwas expressed his anguish on social media platform X. His poetic post, highlighting the plight of the 'unfortunate upper caste', has resonated with thousands of students and has gone viral, adding fuel to the ongoing debate.
Legal Battle in the Supreme Court
The controversy has now reached the doors of the highest court in the country. Advocate Vineet Jindal has filed a petition in the Supreme Court seeking a stay on the implementation of Regulation 3(c). The petition argues that the new rules violate the fundamental right to equality under Article 14 of the Indian Constitution. It demands that the equity framework should be inclusive of all students regardless of their. Caste and that safeguards must be put in place to prevent the misuse of these regulations.
Understanding the New UGC Regulations
Notified on January 13, the regulations mandate the formation of special committees, helplines, and monitoring teams in higher education institutions. These bodies are tasked with addressing complaints of discrimination based on caste, religion, race, and gender. While the government maintains that these steps are necessary for accountability and fairness,. The general category students fear that the rules label them as 'natural offenders'.
The Three Major Changes Causing Unrest
There are three primary reasons for the widespread anger. First, the definition of caste discrimination has been broadened to include any biased behavior that hinders academic progress. Second, the inclusion of Other Backward Classes (OBC) under the protection of these rules, which was absent in the initial draft. Third, and most controversially, the removal of the provision that punished students for filing false or malicious complaints, while critics argue that without a penalty for false accusations, the rules could be used as a tool for harassment on campuses.
Government Response and Religious Leaders' Stand
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has stepped in to calm the situation, assuring that the rules won't be misused and that no student will face discrimination or atrocities. However, the assurance has failed to pacify the protesters. Jagadguru Paramhans Acharya has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, demanding the withdrawal of the rules and threatening to seek euthanasia if his demands aren't met.
Ground Reality and Student Demands
At Lucknow University, students raised slogans like 'Withdraw the Black Law'. In Sambhal, the Chemist Druggist Association held a bike rally with black bands to show solidarity with the protesting students. The core demand remains the reinstatement of the penalty for false complaints and a more balanced approach to equity that protects all students equally, while as the protests continue, the academic community awaits the Supreme Court's intervention to resolve the deadlock.