Paper: GS – II, Subject: Society and Social Justice, Topic: Social Sector – Education, Issue: New UGC Regulations.
Context:
The University Grants Commission (UGC) has notified new regulations (2025) to strengthen safeguards against caste-based discrimination in higher educational institutions, following recurring incidents of discrimination and student suicides that exposed gaps in earlier frameworks.
Key Takeaways:
Purpose and Objective:
- Goal: To eradicate discrimination based on religion, race, gender, place of birth, caste, or disability.
- Target Group: Specifically aims to protect members of Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Other Backward Classes (OBC), Economically Weaker Sections (EWS), and Persons with Disabilities (PwD).
- Scope: Applies to all higher education institutions in India.
Implementation Structure (Key Bodies):
The regulations mandate every institution to set up a specific infrastructure to handle discrimination:
Equal Opportunity Centre (EOC):
- Role: Oversees policy implementation for disadvantaged groups, coordinates with police/district administration, and provides legal aid.
- Composition: 5 faculty members (no specific reservation for these members).
- Backup: If a college lacks enough faculty, the University’s EOC takes over.
Equity Committee:
- Role: Addresses complaints within strict timelines. It must meet within 24 hours of a complaint and submit a report to the institution head within 15 days.
- Composition: 10 members, chaired by the Head of the Institution. Five members must belong to reserved categories (OBC, PwD, SC, ST, and Women).
- Action: The Head of the Institution must initiate action on the report within 7 days.
Equity Squads:
- Role: Mobile units that visit vulnerable spots on campus to maintain vigil and prevent discrimination.
- Support Systems:
- 24-hour Equity Helpline: For reporting incidents.
- Equity Ambassadors: Appointed students/staff to act as “torchbearers” of equity.
Key Differences: 2012 vs. 2026 Regulations:
| Feature | 2012 Regulations | 2026 Regulations |
| Nature | Mostly advisory. | Mandatory with strict monitoring. |
| Penalties for Institutions | No specific action specified for non-compliance. | Severe penalties: UGC can debar institutions from grants, degree programs, and online schemes. |
| Inclusion of OBCs | Did not explicitly specify OBCs; focused only on SC/ST. | Explicitly includes OBCs in the definition of discrimination and committee composition. |
| Procedure | Vague on composition and procedure. | Detailed structure (EOC, Equity Committee, Squads) with strict timelines (24 hrs/15 days). |
The new UGC regulations mark a shift from symbolic safeguards to enforceable accountability, signalling the state’s commitment to creating discrimination-free and inclusive higher educational spaces.
Source: (The Indian Express)
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