Supreme Court Stays UGC Equity Rules 2026; Says 'Are We Moving Backwards?'

Jan 29, 2026 - In a significant ruling today, Thursday (January 29) , the Supreme Court has stayed the University Grant Commission’s (UGC) Promotion of Equity Regulations 2026 describing the provisions are prima facie vague and capable of misuse. The country’s apex Court asked for the regulations to be re-examined by a high-level committee. Till then, its implementation will be kept on hold while the 2012 UGC rules will be in force until further orders.

Widespread protests have erupted across the country against the new UGC rules on the premise that it is discriminatory and extends the benefit of reservation only to Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST) and members of the Other Backward Communities (OBC).

A Bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi heard the writ petitions against the UGC Equity Regulations filed by Mritunjay Tiwari, Advocate Vineet Jindal and Rahul Dewan.

Expressing concerns, the Supreme Court remarked, “After 75 years, whatever we gained in terms of achieving a casteless society, are we going in a regressive direction?”

“ Then you have spoken about separate hostels. For god's sake! There are inter caste marriages also now in our society. And we have also been in hostels where we all stayed together. I hope we don't go to segregated schools like the US where blacks and whites went to different schools,” the Bench said emphasising the need to safeguard inclusivity and unity in Indian institutions.

The UGC Promotion of Equity Regulations 2026 was introduced to replace the UGC (Promotion of Equity in Higher Educational Institutions) Regulations, 2012, which was mostly advisory in nature.

With Media Inputs

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