Jaipur, Jan. 28 -- There will be "no harassment and no discrimination" under the new Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions Regulations, 2026, union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan assured on Tuesday. The new law is introduced to curb caste-based discrimination in colleges and universities. Since it was notified by the University Grants Commission (UGC) on January 13, the new rule sparked criticism from certain sections of the student community, who argue that the framework could lead to discrimination against them. After attending a religious event of Jain communities in Rajasthan's Nagaur, Pradhan told newspersons, "I want to assure everyone that there will be no harassment and no discrimination under this new law. Nobody will have the right to misuse the system in the name of discrimination." Introduced to curb caste-based discrimination in colleges and universities, the regulations direct institutions to establish special committees, helplines and monitoring teams to handle complaints, particularly from SC, ST and OBC students. Commenting on the recent protests, Pradhan said, "Any system laid out by the UGC, central government, or the state government comes under the constitution's boundary. This particular new law will also be monitored by the Supreme Court. I am assuring that nobody will be deprived of, or discriminated against." The UGC regulations have ignited discussions across the country, eliciting reactions from students, teachers and social organisations in several states. While the government maintains that the changes aim to foster greater fairness and accountability in higher education institutions, many critics fear they may deepen social divisions and create fresh challenges on university campuses....