A section of students protested outside the University Grants Commission (UGC) headquarters in Delhi, opposing the newly notified Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions Regulations, 2026. The protest is scheduled for Tuesday and is being organised amid concerns that the rules could lead to discrimination and unrest on campuses.

The regulations, notified on January 13, mandate higher education institutions to set up special committees, helplines and monitoring teams to address complaints, particularly from SC, ST and OBC students, with the aim of preventing caste-based discrimination. However, students from upper caste communities believe that it would impact them adversely.

Criticising the move, Divyesh Tripathi (name changed), a doctoral student from Delhi University, told PTI that the new framework could create serious problems for students.
“The new regulations will create complete chaos in colleges as the burden of proof will now be completely shifted on to the accused, and there were no safeguards for wrongly accused students.”

Calling the rules excessive, he added, “The new regulations are draconian in nature. The definition of victim is already predetermined. Victim can be anyone in the campus.”

Tripathi also expressed concern over increased monitoring, saying,
“With the proposed Equity squads, it will be akin to living under constant surveillance inside the campus,” and noted that students from various Delhi colleges are likely to participate in the protest.

Posters circulating on social media describe the demonstration as a peaceful gherao of the UGC office. One such poster reads, “It’s now or never, unity is strength,” urging students from upper castes to come together and oppose what they describe as discriminatory regulations.

The issue has sparked nationwide debate, drawing responses from students, teachers and social organisations across several states. While the government maintains that the changes are intended to promote fairness and accountability in higher education, critics argue that the regulations could deepen social divisions and create fresh challenges for universities.

Inputs from PTI 

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