UGC Notifies 2026 Regulations Mandating Equity Committees in Higher Education

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has notified the Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions Regulations, 2026, mandating all colleges and universities in India to establish equity committees and Equal Opportunity Centres. These bodies will address caste-based discrimination, promote inclusivity, and provide support to disadvantaged groups including Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes, persons with disabilities, and women. The regulations, issued following a Supreme Court directive linked to pleas concerning earlier rules, also outline coordination with legal authorities and civil society to implement anti-discrimination measures on campuses.