Overview
- Notified on January 13, the UGC’s 2026 rules would require Equal Opportunity Centres, Equity Committees, and formal inquiries at higher education institutions.
- Implementation is stayed after legal challenges, with the Supreme Court warning of social division, vague language, and an internal clash between Sections 3(c) and 3(e).
- Hundreds marched on Friday at Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapeeth to back the rules, as the campus enforced ID checks, drone monitoring, and heavy security during exams.
- Supporters cite a sharp rise in caste-discrimination complaints since 2019–20 and past campus tragedies as evidence that enforceable protections are overdue.
- Critics argue the draft lacks procedural safeguards and could invite misuse, burden smaller colleges, and chill debate, prompting calls for clearer definitions and due-process protections.