UGC Rules Controversy: Government to Revisit 'False Complaint' Clause After SC Stay

• The central government is re-examining the UGC's 'Promotion of Equity Regulations 2026' after the Supreme Court stayed its implementation.
• A key focus is the re-inclusion of a clause for action against 'false complaints', which was present in the 2025 draft but removed from the final 2026 rules.
• General category organizations argue that the absence of this clause could lead to harassment, while opponents note the inclusion of OBCs in the 2026 rules, unlike the 2012 framework.
• The Supreme Court expressed concerns that certain provisions, particularly Sections 2, 3(c), and 7, could promote societal division and segregation among students.
• Discussions are also underway to extend anti-discrimination mechanisms to Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) and address the controversial inclusion of OBCs.

Why It Matters: The government plans to amend controversial UGC rules, focusing on false complaint provisions and EWS inclusion.