Supreme Court Stays New UGC Rules, Cites Concerns Over 'Caste-Based Discrimination'

• The Supreme Court has temporarily stayed the University Grants Commission's (UGC) new rules, 'Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions Regulations, 2026', issued on January 13.
• A bench of CJI Suryakant and Justice Joymala Bagchi found the new UGC rules vague and prone to misuse, expressing concern they could lead to societal division.
• The court raised five key questions regarding the regulations, including the definition of 'caste-based discrimination' and its impact on existing constitutional classifications.
• Concerns were also raised about the inclusion of 'segregation' in hostel/classroom allocations and the omission of 'ragging' as a specific form of discrimination.
• The old UGC rules from 2012 will remain in force, and the next hearing is scheduled for March 19, with notices issued to the Centre and UGC for their responses.

Why It Matters: Supreme Court stays new UGC rules, citing vagueness and potential for societal division; old rules remain.