India, Jan. 27 -- The University Grants Commission's (UGC) newly notified Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions Regulations, 2026, intended to strengthen safeguards against caste-based discrimination on campuses, have instead triggered protests and a legal challenge in the Supreme Court.

While the UGC says the regulations are meant to promote inclusion and accountability, critics said the framework adopts a narrow definition of caste-based discrimination, effectively excluding large sections of students and faculty from its protection, news agency PTI reported.

The matter has also reached the Supreme Court. Let's break it down as protests escalate:

Notified on January 13, the regulations replace the UGC's 2012 anti-discr...