New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India on Thursday put an interim stay on the University Grants Commission’s (UGC) new Equity Regulations 2026, which were designed to prevent caste-based discrimination in higher education institutions, observing that the rules are prima facie vague and susceptible to misuse.In a hearing before a two-judge bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi, the apex court said that failure to intervene “would have a dangerous impact and divide society”, and ordered that the 2012 anti-discrimination regulations remain in force pending further hearings.
The stay order effectively halts implementation of the 2026 regulations until the next scheduled hearing on March 19, 2026, and requires the UGC and the Union of India to file detailed responses.
What the 2026 Regulations Proposed
The newly notified University Grants Commission (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2026, which came into effect earlier this month, sought to strengthen anti-discrimination frameworks on campuses by making it mandatory for all higher education institutions to establish equity committees tasked with addressing discrimination complaints and promoting inclusive environments.