Centre Tells Supreme Court It May Form a Panel to Review the UGC's 2026 Equity Regulations
On November 5, 2026, the Union government told the Supreme Court that it is thinking of setting up a special committee to re-examine the UGC (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2026.
These are rules made by the University Grants Commission (UGC) to stop caste-based and other discrimination in colleges and universities. The UGC notified them on January 13, 2026.
The Supreme Court had stayed (put on hold) the regulations on January 29, 2026, saying they looked "too vague" and "capable of misuse". Until further orders, the older 2012 equity regulations continue to apply.
The Centre said it is examining the criticism of the regulations, which had led to protests by some general-category student groups. In August 2026, it had already told the Court that the rules were being reconsidered.
The bench, led by the Chief Justice of India, said students' welfare must stay at the centre of the process. It indicated that it may ask the UGC to form a committee of academics and eminent jurists, approved by the Court, and adjourned the case by four weeks.
The case began as a 2019 petition by the mothers of Rohith Vemula and Payal Tadvi, two students who died by suicide after alleged caste discrimination on campus.
UGC (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2026
These are rules made by the University Grants Commission (UGC) to make sure that no student or staff member in a college or university is treated unfairly because of caste, religion, gender, disability or similar reasons. They require every higher education institution to set up a full system to prevent discrimination, receive complaints and act on them within fixed time limits. They were notified on January 13, 2026, and replaced the older 2012 regulations. In January 2026 the Supreme Court put them on hold, so the 2012 rules still apply for now.
The Centre has now told the Supreme Court that it may set up a special committee to rework these regulations, after criticism over the definition of discrimination and the risk of misuse. Until a new version is ready and the Court decides, the 2012 rules remain the working framework on campuses.
University Grants Commission (UGC): Role and Powers
The University Grants Commission (UGC) is the main body that looks after university education in India. It sets minimum standards for universities, recognises them and gives them grants. It became a statutory body under the University Grants Commission Act, 1956, and works under the Ministry of Education. Its power comes from Entry 66 of the Union List, which lets the Centre coordinate and set standards in higher education.
The equity regulations were made by the UGC using its regulation-making power. The Court has indicated that it may direct the UGC itself to set up the review committee, so the redrafted rules would again be issued as UGC regulations.
Article 14: Right to Equality and the Doctrine of Arbitrariness
Article 14 says the State shall not deny any person "equality before the law" or "the equal protection of the laws" within India. It does not demand identical treatment for all. It allows the State to treat different groups differently, as long as the grouping is reasonable and connected to the law's aim. A law or rule that is arbitrary, meaning unreasonable or without a proper basis, can also break Article 14.
The challenge to the 2026 regulations rests on Article 14 and Article 15. Petitioners argue that the definition of caste-based discrimination protects only some groups and is vague. The Court's description of the rules as "vague" and "capable of misuse" reflects these equality and clarity concerns.
- UGC Equity Regulations notified: January 13, 2026
- Supreme Court stay: January 29, 2026 (bench led by CJI Surya Kant with Justice Joymalya Bagchi)
- Centre told the Court of a possible special review committee: November 5, 2026; case adjourned by four weeks
- 2012 equity regulations continue to apply in the meantime
- Original petition: 2019, by Radhika Vemula and Abeda Salim Tadvi (W.P. (C) No. 1149 of 2019)
- Rohith Vemula: University of Hyderabad, January 2016; Payal Tadvi: Mumbai, May 2019
- Complaint timelines: 24 hours (committee meets), 15 working days (findings), 7 working days (action), 30 days (appeal)
- UGC Act, 1956: Section 26 (regulations), Sections 2(f) and 12B (recognition and grants)