The Crossbill News Desk
The Union government has told the Supreme Court that it is considering setting up a committee to review the University Grants Commission (UGC) Regulations, 2026, on promoting equity in higher education institutions, amid legal challenges and continuing disagreements over the provisions aimed at addressing caste-based discrimination.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the BJP-led government, informed a bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant on Thursday (November 5) that the government was examining the matter to ensure that the regulations addressed the concerns of students across social groups.
“The government is contemplating appointing a committee,” Mehta informed the bench.
According to a report by The Economic Times, Mehta said the government was considering changes to ensure that the “concerns of students from all sections were addressed and no one felt dissatisfied or apprehensive.”
The submission followed observations by the Supreme Court urging the government to reconsider the regulations and ensure that the proposed framework safeguarded the interests of all students. The bench subsequently adjourned the hearing on a batch of petitions challenging the rules by four weeks, allowing the government additional time to examine the matter.
The regulations, notified on January 13, 2026, were intended to strengthen institutional mechanisms against caste-based discrimination in universities and other higher education institutions.
However, they faced protests from sections of students belonging to the ‘general category’ (those belonging to Savarna caste groups and not the Other Backward Classes, the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes or to Dalit communities), following which the rules were withdrawn amid mounting opposition.
The controversy surrounding the regulations had emerged earlier this year, with protesters arguing that the provisions “may harass general category students and deepen caste divisions”.
On the other hand, supporters of the framework have maintained that the measures do not go far enough to protect students from marginalised communities.
Among the principal provisions of the regulations were mandatory Equal Opportunity Centres (EOCs), Equity Committees and Equity Squads in educational institutions to address complaints of discrimination. The framework also envisaged a round-the-clock ‘Equity Helpline’ and the appointment of Equity Ambassadors to strengthen institutional monitoring and support.
The UGC was also empowered to monitor compliance, with institutions failing to implement the provisions facing the possibility of losing funding and other benefits.
The government's proposed committee could reopen the debate over how higher education institutions should address caste-based discrimination while framing safeguards that account for the concerns raised by different sections of students.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the BJP-led government, informed a bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant on Thursday (November 5) that the government was examining the matter to ensure that the regulations addressed the concerns of students across social groups.
“The government is contemplating appointing a committee,” Mehta informed the bench.
According to a report by The Economic Times, Mehta said the government was considering changes to ensure that the “concerns of students from all sections were addressed and no one felt dissatisfied or apprehensive.”
The submission followed observations by the Supreme Court urging the government to reconsider the regulations and ensure that the proposed framework safeguarded the interests of all students. The bench subsequently adjourned the hearing on a batch of petitions challenging the rules by four weeks, allowing the government additional time to examine the matter.
The regulations, notified on January 13, 2026, were intended to strengthen institutional mechanisms against caste-based discrimination in universities and other higher education institutions.
However, they faced protests from sections of students belonging to the ‘general category’ (those belonging to Savarna caste groups and not the Other Backward Classes, the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes or to Dalit communities), following which the rules were withdrawn amid mounting opposition.
The controversy surrounding the regulations had emerged earlier this year, with protesters arguing that the provisions “may harass general category students and deepen caste divisions”.
On the other hand, supporters of the framework have maintained that the measures do not go far enough to protect students from marginalised communities.
Among the principal provisions of the regulations were mandatory Equal Opportunity Centres (EOCs), Equity Committees and Equity Squads in educational institutions to address complaints of discrimination. The framework also envisaged a round-the-clock ‘Equity Helpline’ and the appointment of Equity Ambassadors to strengthen institutional monitoring and support.
The UGC was also empowered to monitor compliance, with institutions failing to implement the provisions facing the possibility of losing funding and other benefits.
The government's proposed committee could reopen the debate over how higher education institutions should address caste-based discrimination while framing safeguards that account for the concerns raised by different sections of students.
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