UGC Equity Row 2026: DU Students Stage Protest, Seek Immediate Implementation

DU students held an 'Equity March' protest in the North Campus. Amidst the Supreme Court's stay order, the protesters demanded the immediate implementation of the UGC Equity Regulations 2026 and the 'Rohit Act'. Read on for the latest updates on the Delhi University students' protest against the UGC Equity Regulations.

UGC Equity Row 2026

Delhi University students protested on Tuesday at the university's North Campus, demanding the immediate implementation of the UGC Equity Regulations 2026. The protest, reportedly organized by the All India Students Association (AISA), saw hundreds of students carrying placards and chanting slogans in support of the UGC 2026 Equity Regulations. The aim was to protest the Supreme Court's recent stay order on these guidelines.

UGC Equity Rules 2026: What Protestors Say

The protesters argued that the Supreme Court's stay on the provisions promoting equality in the Higher Education Institutions Regulations 2026 is undermining efforts to eliminate caste-based discrimination in universities. Shouting slogans and holding placards, the students emphasized that these regulations serve as a safeguard for students belonging to Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC).

DU Students Protest for UGC Equity Regulations: Key Areas of Controversy 

The main points of protest against the UGC Equality Regulations 2026, for higher education institutions, are as follows:

1. Exclusion of the General Category: Critics argue that the definition of "caste-based discrimination" is limited to only SC/ST/OBC groups and does not include students from the general category.
2. Potential for Misuse: The 2025 draft included a clause providing for penalties for false or malicious complaints, which was removed from the final version, raising concerns about the potential for misuse.
3. Supreme Court Stay: On January 29, 2026, the Supreme Court stayed these regulations, deeming them vague. The 2012 UGC Equality Regulations will remain in effect until further orders.