The Supreme Court on Tuesday intensified its scrutiny of the University Grants Commission’s (UGC) ‘Equity Regulations 2026’. Issuing a notice to the Centre and UGC on two fresh petitions, the top court decided to hear all related matters together. The legal battle revolves around whether the new rules inadvertently discriminate against students belonging to the General Category.

The Core Issue: Definition of Discrimination Petitioners argue that the new regulations redefine ‘caste-based discrimination’ in a way that exclusively protects SC, ST, and OBC students. They claim that by excluding General Category students from this specific grievance redressal framework, the UGC is creating an “unbalanced” environment and violating the fundamental right to equality.

A History of Ambiguity Earlier, on January 29, 2026, the Supreme Court stayed the implementation of these rules, noting that their “vague language” could spark societal division. The court had urged the authorities to reconsider the provisions through an expert committee. While the UGC maintains that the goal is inclusivity, students across various universities have protested against what they call a weakening of their institutional protection.