UGC Equity Norms Spark Rowlatt Act Comparison: Why New Rules Face Backlash

• UGC introduced "Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions Regulations, 2026" on January 13 to combat caste discrimination.
• The new rules have triggered widespread protests and comparisons to the repressive 1919 British Rowlatt Act.
• Bareilly City Magistrate Alankar Agnihotri resigned, citing the similarity between the UGC norms and the Rowlatt Act.
• The Rowlatt Act allowed imprisonment without charge, trial, or warrant, and sentencing without a jury, leading to events like the Jallianwala Bagh massacre.
• Critics argue UGC rules allow anonymous complaints without evidence, raising concerns about false accusations and lack of general category representation in new committees.

Why It Matters: UGC's new equity norms face severe criticism for provisions allowing anonymous complaints, drawing parallels to the draconian Rowlatt Act.