In New Draft rules, UGC Redefines ‘Discrimination’, Invites Public Feedback

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has released new draft regulations that redefined "discrimination" and  "caste-based discrimination" in universities.

The rules state that caste-based discrimination applies only to Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs). Unlike the 2012 regulations, which covered multiple forms of bias, the 2025 draft applies to all stakeholders in an institution.

It also proposes Equity Committees to handle complaints and introduces penalties for false complaints, though it does not define what is "false." Critics say the draft ignores anti-reservation discrimination.

Public feedback is open for 30 days, and non-compliant universities may lose recognition.