Supreme Court Halts UGC Equity Rules, Orders Centre to Rework 'Vague' Regulations

• The Supreme Court has ordered a stay on the University Grants Commission (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2026.
• The court deemed the language of the new rules 'vague' and 'capable of misuse', directing the Centre to rework them.
• The decision follows nationwide protests by upper-caste groups against the January 13 notification, which they argued lacked safeguards for general category students.
• The 2012 UGC regulations will remain in effect in the interim, and a committee of eminent jurists will revisit the regulations.
• The ruling offers the Centre a 'breather' to recalibrate its response to the controversy, which had caused unease within the BJP, particularly regarding its OBC support base.

Why It Matters: Supreme Court pauses UGC equity rules, citing vagueness and potential misuse, providing Centre a political reprieve.