Parliament Question: UGC’s new rules to eradicate discrimination in HEIs

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1293 ANSWERED ON 11/02/2026 UGC’s new rules to eradicate discrimination in HEIs 1293 Smt. Rajathi: Will the Minister of Education be pleased to state: (a) the salient features of the University Grants Commission (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2026; (b) comparison between the 2012 and 2026 regulations; (c) the details of implementation of 2012 regulations along with the reasons for challenges in implementation; (d) the objectives of Equal Opportunity Centres (EOCs) and how many such EOCs have been formed since the notification of the new rules; and (e) the penalties for non-compliance of the rules? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR) (a) to (e): As per available information, all the Central Universities under the purview of the University Grants Commission (UGC) have constituted Equal Opportunity Cells. Further, the University Grants Commission (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2026, notified on 13.01.2026, have been kept in abeyance by the Hon’ble Supreme Court vide order dated 29.01.2026. Hence, the matter is sub judice. *****