Education Minister Assures Fair Use Of New UGC Equity Rules Amid Widespread Backlash

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Tuesday addressed the growing controversy surrounding the newly notified University Grants Commission (UGC) regulations on equity in higher education, asserting that the guidelines would not be misused to discriminate or harass any section of students or faculty.

Reacting to concerns raised across campuses and on social media, the minister said that the UGC and the central government would ensure the rules are implemented fairly and transparently. Speaking to reporters, Pradhan stated, “I assure everyone that there won’t be any discrimination or harassment in the name of the new UGC regulation. No one can misuse the law.”

Protests And Online Outrage Grow

The assurance comes amid strong opposition to the “Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions Regulations 2026,” which has triggered protests by students and faculty members across the country. Many critics have described the regulations as biased and discriminatory against students from the general category.

Earlier in the day, the hashtag #ShameonUGC emerged as the top trend on social media platform X, with users criticising the move and calling it unfair to upper-caste students. The discontent also spilled onto the streets, with students staging a demonstration outside the UGC office.

What The New Regulations Propose?

The controversy intensified after the UGC announced that every higher education institution must set up an Equal Opportunity Centre. These centres would include representatives from Other Backward Classes (OBCs), Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), Persons with Disabilities (PwDs), and women.

Opponents argue that the framework could be used to target general category students, potentially creating unrest on campuses. Adding to the turmoil, a senior bureaucrat and a BJP youth wing leader resigned from their respective positions on Monday, describing the regulations as ‘discriminatory and draconian.’

Despite the backlash, the government has maintained that the regulations intend to promote fairness and support disadvantaged groups without harming the interests of others.

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