UGC notifies new regulations to address caste-based discrimination in higher education

The Hindu
The Hindu
3h ago
The UGC notified the Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions Regulations, 2026, requiring equity structures on campuses and allowing penalties up to loss of recognition for non-compliance while expanding coverage to include OBCs and dropping a proposed fine for false complaints.
UGC notifies new regulations to address caste-based discrimination in higher education
A What happened
The UGC notified new regulations to address caste-based discrimination in higher education institutions across India. The rules mandate equal opportunity centres and equity committees on campuses and allow punishments for non-compliance, including debarring institutions from offering programmes and removal from the UGC list of higher education institutions. The final rules include OBCs under “caste-based discrimination” and drop a draft proposal to discourage false complaints through fines. The UGC will set up a national-level monitoring committee to oversee implementation and review discrimination issues.
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Key insights

  • 1

    Non-compliance can trigger loss of institutional standing with the UGC: The regulations allow penalties including debarring institutions from UGC schemes and programmes and removal from the UGC list of higher education institutions.

  • 2

    Monitoring and reporting are built into the compliance structure: Institutions must run EOCs and equity committees with scheduled meetings and bi-annual and annual reporting, and a national monitoring committee is tasked with oversight and review.

  • 3

    Scope of caste-based discrimination coverage explicitly includes OBCs: The final regulations define caste-based discrimination to cover SCs, STs, and OBCs and remove the draft proposal to fine false complaints.

Takeaways

The UGC’s 2026 equity regulations require campus equity bodies, reporting, and national monitoring, and they permit significant sanctions for institutions that do not comply while explicitly covering SCs, STs, and OBCs under caste-based discrimination.

Topics

Work & Education Education World & Politics Policy & Regulation Governance Human Rights

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