2026 UGC equity rules: Cracks on campus

Students across India protested the 2026 regulations of the University Grants Commission (UGC), claiming they divide campuses along caste lines. The new regulations define "caste-based discrimination" and introduce stricter provisions for grievance redressal mechanisms and institutional accountability. Protesters argue that these changes are discriminatory against general category students and do not adequately address caste discrimination. Some student groups have called for explicit representation of the general category in monitoring and accountability mechanisms, while others advocate for a full rollback of the regulations. The protests highlight the ongoing tension between efforts to combat caste discrimination and concerns about potential division on campuses.