UGC Equity Regulation Row: SC Halts New UGC Equity Rules Amid Nationwide Protests; Check Details

The Supreme Court has put a stay on new UGC guidelines amid nation-wide protest by general category students and other stakeholders. Further, the Apex court has also issued notices to the government and UGC regarding the newly introduced guidelines for promotion of equity in Higher Education Institutions. 

The Supreme Court has put on hold the new UGC guidelines introduced for the promotion of equity in Higher Education Institutions. The newly introduced UGC guidelines were widely criticised by the general category students on the grounds of being discriminatory against the general category students studying in the institutes and universities in the country. 

Pausing the UGC guidelines, the Apex Court has mentioned that prima facie the guidelines seem 'Vague' and prone to be misused. 

"Whatever we have gained in terms of achieving a casteless society, are we now becoming regressive?" Said the Apex Court's bench, consisting of CJI Surya Kant. 

UGC New Guidelines Challenged by Petitioners

Supreme Court stays the UGC (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, notified on Jan 23, 2026. This was widely challenged by various petitioners as being arbitrary, exclusionary, discriminatory, in violation of the Constitution as well as the UGC Act, 1956.

"If we don't step in, this could be dangerous and split our society apart," the Supreme Court bench further cited. Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi explained that they had to intervene now to prevent serious, long-term damage to the country's unity.

UGC Asked to Reply Before March 19

The Supreme Court has asked the Central Government and the UGC to justify their side by March 19. In the meantime, the judges have paused the new rules. They warned that letting these rules start now would be risky and could cause deep fights within society that would be hard to fix later. 

Read more:

• UGC Enforces Strict Rules as Caste Bias Complaint Rises by 118%