Supreme Court Stays UGC's New Equity Rules, Cites US School Segregation

• The Supreme Court has stayed the University Grants Commission's (UGC) new 'Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions Regulations 2026'.
• The new rules, intended to prevent caste-based discrimination, were deemed "too broad" and "vague" by CJI Suryakant's bench.
• The rules controversially limited the definition of discrimination to SC, ST, and OBC, excluding general category students, leading to petitions.
• CJI Suryakant cited America's history of segregated schools (white and Black) to warn against policies that could divide Indian society.
• The old 2012 UGC rules will remain in effect, and the next hearing is scheduled for March 19.

Why It Matters: Supreme Court halts UGC's new equity rules, fearing societal division and citing US school segregation history.