What UGC’s Promotion of Equity Regulations 2026 means for students? Why they’re stirring controversy

Home EducationWhat UGCs Promotion of Equity Regulations 2026 means for students? Why theyre stirring controversy What UGC’s Promotion of Equity Regulations 2026 means for students? Why they’re stirring controversy

Supporters of the regulations, on the other hand, have defended them as necessary corrective measures to address historical marginalisation, insisting that the rules do not amount to reverse discrimination.

Published: January 25, 2026 3:25 PM IST By Sumaila Zaman | Edited by Sumaila Zaman Follow Us

The UGC’s Promotion of Equity Regulations, 2026, aim to strengthen anti-discrimination mechanisms in higher education institutions. The rules mandate the creation of equity committees, equal opportunity centres, helplines, and monitoring squads in colleges and universities. They define discrimination broadly, including explicit acts as well as implicit bias and systemic exclusion.

As per the UGC, the regulations were framed in response to a reported 118 per cent rise in discrimination complaints between 2019 and 2023, with a particular focus on protecting Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes.

Nevertheless, the reaction to the latest notification is mixed. Individuals in the general category have responded with criticism of the rules for what they describe as a one-sided framework, arguing that protections for the accused are insufficient and that upper-caste students could be unfairly targeted.

Supporters of the regulations, on the other hand, have defended them as necessary corrective measures to address historical marginalisation, insisting that the rules do not amount to reverse discrimination. 

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According to the reports agency IANS report, the regulations also seek to introduce institutional accountability, placing responsibility on heads of institutions for addressing harassment complaints and ensuring compliance through regular oversight.

While the UGC maintains that the framework aims at long-term structural reform, critics argue that without equal application and precise definitions, the rules risk increasing mistrust and conflict on campuses rather than fostering genuine equity.

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Sumaila Zaman

Sumaila Zaman is a Senior Sub Editor at India.com, where she covers key developments and trending events across education, world affairs, business, and current stories. At India.com, she specializes in b ... Read More

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