UGC regulations against caste bigotry need tweaks

The Promotion of Equity in Higher Educational Institutions Regulations 2026 have multiple shortcomings that can fail the efforts to end discrimination on educational campuses

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Recognising the sad evidence on caste discrimination that had led to suicide by SC/ST students — at AIIMS in 2008 and, later, at other higher education institutions — the ministry of education had asked the UGC to frame regulations against discrimination.

This led to the UGC (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations 2012. Meanwhile, the mothers of Rohit Vemula, and Payal Tadvi who lost their children, filed petitions in the Supreme Court for strict implementation of the 2012 regulations. The Supreme Court asked the UGC to share the status of implementation. In response, the UGC informed the apex court that, among other things, it was revising the 2012 regulations to improve its provisions. It invited feedback on the revised regulations in January 2025, which were then notified this month. Unfortunately, the revised regulations, instead of making improvements, diluted the 2012 regulations. The regulator did make some improvements in the mechanism for sensitisation against discrimination on education campuses, but it also left behind significant shortcomings that needed correction.