UGC Bill 2026 challenged in Supreme Court amid nationwide protests; Details inside

New Delhi: Amid a nationwide controversy and protests across several states, the UGC Bill 2026 has been challenged in the Supreme Court by BHU student leader Mrityunjay Tiwari. According to reports, Tiwari has filed a petition under Article 32 of the Constitution and has requested the apex court to declare UGC Regulation 3(c) unconstitutional and strike it down, or to direct that the provision be amended to include caste-based discrimination against any individual, regardless of their caste.

What is the reason for the controversy?

A nationwide controversy has erupted over the new University Grants Commission (UGC) regulations in the higher education sector. The "Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions Regulations, 2026," notified by the UGC to promote equality in higher education institutions, has sparked a new debate across the country.

The UGC implemented the new rules across the country from January 15, 2026, replacing the old 2012 rules, to eliminate caste-based discrimination among students in universities, colleges, and other higher education institutions. The new rules offer a much stricter system to deal with caste discrimination on campuses.

On one hand, the government is calling it a 'historic step' to eliminate caste-based discrimination on campuses, while on the other hand, several organizations are terming it unconstitutional and a conspiracy against the 'upper castes'. The controversy has escalated to such an extent that the matter has now reached the Supreme Court.

What are the new rules causing the uproar?

According to the notification issued by the UGC on January 13, it has been made mandatory for every college and university to establish 'Equal Opportunity Centers' (EOCs) and 'Equity Committees'. These committees will mandatorily include representation from OBCs, SCs, STs, persons with disabilities, and women. Their job will be to investigate any kind of discrimination occurring on campus.

'Equity Squads' will be formed to monitor sensitive areas of the campus such as hostels, canteens, and departments. 'Equity Ambassadors' will also be appointed from among the students. A committee meeting must be convened within 24 hours of receiving a complaint of discrimination, and action must be taken within a stipulated time frame. Institutions that do not comply with these rules may face suspension of their funding and other government schemes by the UGC.

The new regulations were reportedly introduced after official data revealed a sharp rise in reports of caste discrimination cases on campuses between 2019 and 2024. The UGC Bill 2026 aims to ensure that educational institutions take responsibility instead of ignoring or delaying action in such cases.

According to reports, some modifications to the new rules can be made based on the provisions of 2012.  This would ensure that complaints of discrimination are addressed and no community feels that they are being treated unfairly

What are the features of the UGC Bill 2026?

The UGC Bill 2026 aims to prevent discrimination and support affected students. Some of the major rules are explained below:

Inclusion Of OBCs: a critical change brought by the UGC Bill 2026 is the inclusion of Other Backwards Classes (OBCs). Along with SCs and STs who were the beneficiaries of the earlier rules, now OBCs, persons with disabilities and women are also covered under these regulations.

Equal Opportunity Centres: The UGC Bill 2026 directs every higher education institution to establish Equal Opportunity Centres to promote equality, guide students and handle complaints related to discrimination. Institutions failing to do so will face strict action from UGC.

Equity Committees: The UGC Bill 2026 has also made it compulsory to form an equity committee in every institution which will be chaired by the head of the institution and must include members from SC, ST, OBC, PwBD and women.

Time-Bound Grievance Addressing: The UGC Bill 2026 also intends to ensure quick action on complaints and mandates the equity committee to take action within 24 hours. A detailed report is to  be submitted within 15 working days.

24/7 Helpline And Online Complaint System: The UGC Bill 2026 requires a 24/7 helpline and an online complaint portal in every instituition to ensures that students can report issues at any time without fear or pressure.

Direct Accountability Of Institutions: The head of the institution will be held directly responsible for any case of discrimination. Institutions can no longer shift blame or ignore complaints, making accountability much stronger than before.

What has been the public reaction?

Protests against the UGC bill are continuing across the country, including in Bihar. Bihar NDA leaders, ministers, and even Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary are particularly under fire. The anger over the new UGC provisions is rapidly escalating. The question now is, why is the UGC Act 2026 facing such strong opposition? Upper-caste teachers and students are primarily objecting to the removal of a rule from 2012.

Why is the UGC Bill 2026 causing outrage among the upper caste community?

The new UGC rules have removed an old provision from 2012 that discouraged false complaints. Opponents of the new UGC law argue that this could lead to the misuse of the law to target teachers and students from the general category. Because if a complaint against them is found to be false, no action will be taken against the person who filed it. The 2012 rule has been removed, eliminating any fear of punishment for those who file false complaints.

In Bihar and Jharkhand, various organizations have also termed this as being against the basic spirit of the Constitution. Students from the general category are even calling it a second SC/ST Act. Most importantly, the leaders, ministers, and MLAs of the ruling NDA in both the central government and Bihar are the primary targets of this criticism. Take Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, for example; when he posted a Republic Day greeting, a user replied, "Withdraw the UGC (bill), Jai Hind, Jai Bharat."