No discrimination under new UGC equity rules, says Education Minister 

Education Minister assures no discrimination under new UGC equity regulations amid protests and mixed reactions from student groups.

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Tuesday (January 27, 2026) sought to allay concerns over the new 2026 University Grants Commission regulations on promoting equity in higher education institutions, amid protests and allegations that the rules discriminate against “general category” students.

Speaking to reporters in Rajasthan, Mr. Pradhan said the regulations had been notified under the supervision of the Supreme Court and assured that “there will be no discrimination” and that “no one will have the right to misuse anything in the name of discrimination”.

His remarks came against the backdrop of protests against the UGC regulations in cities like Lucknow, Indore, and New Delhi, with more demonstrations planned in the coming days, and multiple petitions filed in the Supreme Court challenging the framework.

The new regulations, notified on January 13, define “caste-based discrimination” as discrimination on the basis of caste or tribe against those belonging to the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes, and the Other Backward Classes. The final version also drops a provision proposed in an earlier draft to penalise false complaints.

Critics of the regulations have argued that by not recognising students from the “general category” as potential victims of caste-based discrimination, the definition itself is discriminatory. They have also flagged the absence of any mechanism to act against complaints believed to be false.

Addressing reporters in Rajasthan’s Didwana, Mr. Pradhan said, “I want to assure everyone that no one will be subject to harassment and there will be no discrimination. No one will have the right to misuse anything in the name of discrimination.”