Nationwide Protests Against New UGC Equity Rules

• By Thetripurapost Desk, New Delhi
• Jan 27, 2026
• 636

Protests by general category students and upper-caste groups are intensifying across the country against the newly notified UGC regulations on equity in higher education. On Tuesday, security was significantly tightened outside the University Grants Commission headquarters in New Delhi, where large barricades were erected to prevent protesters from entering the campus.
Protests Spread Across Uttar Pradesh
Demonstrations were reported from several districts of Uttar Pradesh, including Lucknow, Rae Bareli, Varanasi, Meerut, Prayagraj, and Sitapur. Students, youth groups, and various social organisations took part.
In Rae Bareli, BJP farmer leader Ramesh Bahadur Singh and Gau Raksha Dal president Mahendra Pandey courted controversy by sending bangles to upper-caste MPs, symbolically protesting what they described as the “targeting” of general category communities.
In Bareilly, City Magistrate Alankar Agnihotri resigned in protest against the new regulations, escalating the political and administrative impact of the agitation.
Political and Legal Reactions
Poet and public figure Kumar Vishwas, reacting sharply, posted a satirical verse on social media suggesting that upper castes were being portrayed as “natural criminals.”
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, however, defended the rules, stating that no one would be allowed to misuse the system, and assured that the regulations would not permit oppression or discrimination against any community.
Meanwhile, lawyer Vineet Jindal has filed a petition in the Supreme Court, seeking a stay on the regulations, equal safeguards for all students, and the establishment of equity helpline mechanisms.
What the New UGC Rules Say
The UGC notified the regulations on January 13, titled:
“Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions Regulations, 2026.”
Under the new framework, universities and colleges must set up:
Equity Committees
Dedicated helplines
Monitoring and vigilance teams
These bodies are mandated to specifically address complaints of caste-based discrimination, particularly from SC, ST, and OBC students. The government says the objective is to bring accountability, sensitivity, and fairness to campuses.
Why They Are Being Opposed
Opponents argue that the rules are one-sided and could lead to targeting of general category students, potentially creating fear and instability on campuses. Protesters claim the framework presumes guilt and could be misused, leading to discrimination in reverse.
Background: Parliamentary Panel and Past Tragedies
The rules are rooted in the recommendations of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports, chaired by Congress leader Digvijay Singh. The committee, comprising 30 MPs from both ruling and opposition parties, had strongly recommended making Equity Committees mandatory across all higher education institutions.
The regulatory push has also been shaped by repeated Supreme Court observations and national outrage following alleged caste discrimination cases, especially the deaths of:
Rohith Vemula (University of Hyderabad, 2016)
Dr Payal Tadvi (Mumbai, 2019)
Both cases triggered nationwide protests and judicial scrutiny. Several other incidents — including Senthil Kumar (JNU), Aman Kachhu (Himachal Pradesh Medical College), and Aniket Ambhore (AIIMS Delhi) — have been cited in court proceedings highlighting persistent caste-related concerns in higher education.
A Larger Debate on Campus Equity
The unfolding protests underline a deepening national debate: how to institutionalise protection against caste discrimination while also ensuring that regulatory mechanisms are not perceived as biased. With the matter now before the Supreme Court and agitation spreading on the ground, the new UGC regulations are set to face intense legal, political, and social scrutiny in the coming weeks.