Supreme Court Reconsiders UGC Equity Regulations
· India · The Hindu, Indian Express, News18
On August 20, 2026, a bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V Mohana heard the Centre’s notice that the 2026 University Grants Commission (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations are under reconsideration. The Solicitor General, Tushar Mehta, stated that the regulations are still pending review and the bench directed the UGC to file a comprehensive counter‑affidavit within four weeks, after which petitioners may file a rejoinder within two weeks. The regulations had been stayed on January 29, 2026, when the Supreme Court found the framework “prima facie vague” and potentially divisive. Student groups across the country have organised marches demanding the rules be rolled back or re‑examined. The UGC’s 2012 equity regulations will remain in force until the court delivers further orders.
Why it matters
The ruling determines when and how caste‑based discrimination rules will be applied in Indian universities, affecting admission, scholarships and campus policy for students and staff. The interim stay means institutions will continue operating under the older 2012 framework while the new regulations are debated.
Read the original report — The Hindu
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