Dharmendra Pradhan: In the wake of growing unrest in the country due to University Grants Commission (UGC) regulations, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has remarked that there would be no abuse or any form of discrimination.
What Started The Ruckus?
UGC recently established a new set of regulations – Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions Regulations, 2026 for constituting a structured framework to support disadvantaged groups and grievance redressal across colleges and universities across the country.
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Pradhan urged educational institutions in the country to promote equity, transparency, accountability and fairness in higher education and implement anti-discrimination measures effectively.
The UGC recently issued regulations on January 15 that aim to curb caste-based discrimination on campuses. The new regulations aim to ensure an inclusive, safe and dignified academic environment for teachers, students and non-teaching staff.
Why The Controversy?
Under the new UGC rules, OBC students and employees are explicitly empowered to file complaints of discrimination or harassment. The UGC has also urged educational institutions to provide sufficient representation from SCs, STs, OBCs and persons with disabilities.
Several upper caste organizations have argued that the new UGC provisions are vulnerable to abuse. They believe that false complaints can be filed by students from the General Category. In Jaipur, many groups such as the Brahmin Mahasabha, Karni Sena, Kayastha Mahasabha and various Vaishya organizations have come together under a single banner of the Savarna Samaj Coordination Committee (S-4) to oppose the move.
After a video by Swami Anand Swaroop, the controversy started gaining traction. In the video, Swami asked for unity among members of the upper caste groups. Several upper case YouTubers, activists and influencers have labelled the UGC regulations as “anti-upper caste”.
The remarks of Dharmendra Pradhan are seen by many as generic hollow promises. Many on social media platforms commented if the education minister personally would intervene if someone is wrongfully trapped in discrimination cases.
