Explainer: UGC's 2026 Regulations For Tackling Discrimination In Colleges & Surrounding Controversy

On January 13, the University Grants Commission notified its much-awaited Regulations for tackling caste-discrimination in college campuses - the University Grants Commission (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2026.

The UGC framed these Regulations following a PIL filed before the Supreme Court in 2019 by Radhika Vemula and Abeda Salim Tadvi, mothers of Rohit Vemula and Payal Tadvi respectively, seeking a mechanism to end caste-based discrimination in campuses. Rohit Vemula and Payal Tadvi both reportedly died by suicide over caste-discrimination faced in their universities.

In early 2025, the top Court told the Union that it was looking to create a "very strong and robust mechanism" for "really" tackling the unfortunate issues. It further gave liberty to the petitioners and other stakeholders to give suggestions for incorporation in UGC's draft regulations. After considering stakeholder suggestions, UGC finally notified the Regulations in January this year, which had the effect of superseding its earlier 2012 Regulations.

The Regulations, formulated with the noble objective of promoting "equity" in higher education institutions, are being opposed by some sections. Petitions have been filed in the Supreme Court contending that the Regulations promoted discrimination against "general classes". Another petition challenges Regulation 3(c), which defines "caste-based discrimination", contending that the provisions should be "caste-neutral."

Outside the Court, the issue has triggered widespread debates and protests in different parts of the country, on the ground of apprehended threat to the "savarna community" (general category). Supporters of the Regulations, on the other hand, are voicing protest against any roll-back.

In this backdrop, let's look at some key aspects of the UGC Regulations 2026.

♦ Objective: The stated objective of the Regulations is to eliminate discrimination only on the basis of religion, race, gender, place of birth, caste, or disability, particularly against the members of scheduled castes and scheduled tribes, socially and educationally backward classes, economically weaker sections, persons with disabilities, and to promote full equity and inclusion amongst the stakeholders in HEIs.

♦ Scope: The Regulations cover all Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) in India. The provisions apply to stakeholders including - students, faculty members, staff and members of the managing committee (including the HEI head). Protection has been accorded not only to students who are already enrolled, but also those who are at the stage of seeking admission, whether through Formal, Open and Distance Learning, or Online mode. Further, the provisions cover persons identifying as male, female or the third gender.

♦ Definition of 'Discrimination' and 'Caste-based discrimination': According to Regulation 3(1)(c), caste-based discrimination means discrimination only on the basis of caste or tribe against "members of the scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, and other backward classes".

In addition to this, Regulation 3(1)(f) defines "discrimination" as any unfair, differential, or biased treatment or any such act against any stakeholder on the grounds only of religion, race, caste, gender, place of birth or disability. It also includes any distinction, exclusion, limitation, or preference which has the purpose or effect of impairing equality of treatment in education and, in particular, of imposing conditions on any stakeholder or group of stakeholders which are incompatible with human dignity.

♦ Duty of HEIs: The Regulations cast a duty on every HEI to eradicate discrimination against all stakeholders by taking appropriate preventive and protective measures. The HEI shall not condone any form of discrimination and the Head of the HEI shall have all necessary powers to ensure that the Regulations are duly observed.

♦ Equal Opportunity Centres: The Regulations call on every HEI to constitute Equal Opportunity Centres for implementation of policies for the disadvantaged, for counselling, and to enhance diversity within campuses. These Centres must coordinate with civil society, local media, police, district administration, NGOs working in the field, parents, faculty, and staff members. They shall also work with District and State Legal Services Authorities to provide legal help in deserving cases. A regular professor, or senior faculty member, who has "innate interest in the welfare of disadvantaged social groups", shall be nominated by the governing body of an HEI as Coordinator of the Centre.

Among other things, it shall be the Centre's function to protect an aggrieved person, who has reported an incident, from retaliation as well as to maintain an online portal for complaints. The Centre shall also publish bi-annual reports, to be made available on the HEI's website, providing demographic composition of students and staff, dropout rate, complaints received and their status.

♦ Equity Committees: The head of the HEI shall further constitute Equity Committees to manage the Centre and enquire into discrimination complaints. This Committee shall comprise: (i) The Head of the Institution (ex-officio Chairperson); (ii) 3 Professors/Senior Faculty Members of the HEI (Members); (iii) 1 Staff Member, other than a teacher, of the HEI (Member); (iv) 2 representatives from civil society with relevant experience (Members); (v) 2 student representatives, to be nominated based on academic merit/excellence in sports/performance in co-curricular activities (as Special Invitees). The Coordinator of the Centre shall act as the ex-officio Member Secretary.

The Committees shall have representation of women, OBCs, SCs, STs and persons with disabilities. It shall meet atleast twice a year and review actions taken on matters received.

♦ Equity Squads and Ambassadors: Each HEI shall also constitute an 'Equity Squad', that is, a small body for maintaining vigil across campus. This squad shall remain mobile and visit vulnerable spots frequently. Further, the HEI shall designate 'Equity Ambassadors', that is, nodal officers for each unit, department, faculty, library, etc., who would carry out the Centre's activities in their units and report any equity violation.

♦ Equity Helpline: Every HEI shall put in place a round the clock helpline to cater to any stakeholder in distress due to discrimination-related incident. Identity of stakeholder reporting and violation of equity shall remain confidential if so requested by the informant.

In addition to the above, the Regulations require the HEIs to take sensitization and awareness measures, obtain anti-discrimination undertakings, engage professional counsellors and encourage reporting by victims/witnesses. The UGC shall also put in place a monitoring mechanism and annual reports must be sent by every HEI to the UGC, concerned statutory councils and State Education Departments.

What happens when there is an incident of discrimination?

The Regulations provide for reporting of an incident in 3 ways - on the online portal, through email to the Coordinator of the Equal Opportunity Centre, or via the Equity Helpline. Information received on the helpline is to be forwarded to police authorities if prima facie a case under penal laws is made out.

On receipt of information, the Equity Committee shall meet within 24 hours and take action. It shall submit its report to the HEI head within 15 working days and supply a copy to the aggrieved person as well. The HEI head shall then take action as per rules of the HEI within 7 working days. If a case under penal laws is made out, police authorities are to be informed immediately.

The Regulations also provide a remedy of appeal before an Ombudsperson to any person aggrieved by the Enquiry Committee report.

Consequences of non-compliance with Regulations

If there's any non-compliance with the Regulations by an HEI, the UGC will constitute an enquiry committee. If the non-compliance is established, the HEI will suffer - debarment from UGC schemes, debarment from offering degree programmes, debarment from offering ODL and online mode programmes, and removal from the list of HEIs maintained under Sections 2(f) and 12B of the UGC Act (dealing with recognition). The UGC can take any of these actions, or more, on case-to-case basis.

The controversy

Regulation 3(c), insofar as it defines caste based discrimination as discrimination meted out only on the basis of caste or tribe against a member of the SC/ST/OBC community, is being questioned for exclusion of the general category stakeholders from its ambit - as they can also face caste-linked bias.

Another bone of contention is the representation of SC/ST/OBC communities in the Equity Committees probing discrimination complaints which, the general category members feel, takes away right to fair hearing. It is their case that an anti-discrimination law should protect all from discrimination equally, regardless of the category to which a person belongs.

Further, it is feared that the Regulations may be misused by stakeholders from SC/ST/OBC communities, as there is no safeguard or penalty in place against false complaints. This, the opponents claim, can lead to a sort of "reverse discrimination". Parallels are being drawn with the SC/ST Act to argue that there have been cases of false prosecution, some of which resulted in acquittals at last but caused irreparable damage to the accused.

Some also apprehend that short timelines for action and consequences contemplated for non-compliance with the Regulations may push HEIs into rushed decisions.

Supporters of Regulations, on the other hand, cite India's history of a caste-divide to highlight that the anti-discrimination protection framework must necessarily be targeted, instead of neutral. They also emphasize that the protection against false complaints has been taken away by the new law as penalties could deter reporting.

Stronger representation of the reserved categories on enquiry panels is being supported on the ground that historically, many complaints used to get ignored or were not believed. Representation of the reserved categories can therefore establish trust and enable stakeholders to come forward.

With the Regulations being a result of a push from the Supreme Court in the backdrop of student suicides, and the challenge to the 2026 Regulations now having reached the Court, it remains to be seen how the Court will deal with it.

Click here to read the regulations