'Misuse will not be tolerated, misinformation is being spread...'; Government to issue fact sheet on UGC rules.

Tensions are rising over the University Grants Commission's (UGC) new regulations. According to an NDTV report, the government will present facts to counter the misinformation being spread by the opposition regarding these rules.

The new UGC regulations pertain to equity regulations in higher education institutions, aimed at preventing caste-based discrimination on campuses.

Government to provide facts on UGC's new rules.

The new UGC rules were implemented on January 13, 2026.  According to reports, these new rules have angered upper-caste individuals. The government is expected to clarify its stance on these rules soon.

According to reports, the opposition wants to escalate this issue before the start of the budget session of Parliament next week. The opposition has also received support from the City Magistrate of Bareilly and a leader of the ruling BJP's youth wing, Yuva Morcha, who has since resigned from the party.

District official Alankar Agnihotri warned that the new rules would spread division instead of bringing about reform. Agnihotri called the new UGC rules a "black law" and said, "These will spoil the academic environment. They should be withdrawn immediately."

What are the new UGC rules?

The University Grants Commission Regulations, 2026, have been introduced to promote equality in higher education institutions. All universities and colleges have been asked to create a structured framework for grievance redressal, inclusion, and support for marginalized groups.

The new UGC rules come after directions from the Supreme Court. The court had asked the UGC to submit updated regulations related to the implementation of the 2012 UGC Anti-Discrimination Regulations. The court gave this direction while hearing a petition filed by the mothers of Rohith Vemula and Payal Tadvi.

Vemula, a PhD scholar at Hyderabad University, allegedly committed suicide in 2016 after facing caste-based harassment. In 2019, Tadvi, a resident doctor at Topiwala National Medical College and BYL Nair Hospital in Mumbai, also died by suicide after alleging caste-based harassment by her seniors.

This new framework aims to establish institutional mechanisms to prevent discrimination and ensure timely redressal in higher education campuses.

Chanted 'Har Har Mahadev' when questioned

The tension surrounding these UGC regulations escalated further when Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai tried to evade questions on the subject.

According to media reports, when journalists questioned Nityanand Rai at an event in Bihar, he simply started chanting 'Har Har Mahadev'.