New Delhi, November 5: The Centre has informed the Supreme Court that it is setting up a special committee to re-examine the University Grants Commission (UGC) Regulations, 2026, aimed at promoting equity in higher education institutions. The regulations, which were stayed by the apex court in January, will be reviewed in the light of concerns raised by students and other stakeholders.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed a bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant that the government was exploring measures to address students’ concerns and ensure that no section of the student community feels excluded, threatened or apprehensive under the proposed framework.

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Emphasising the need to protect the interests of all students, the Chief Justice observed that the concerns and well-being of the younger generation must remain at the centre of the exercise.

The Supreme Court had earlier stayed the implementation of the 2026 regulations, expressing serious reservations over certain provisions, particularly their alleged vagueness and the possibility of misuse. The bench, comprising CJI Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi, had specifically questioned the wording of Regulation 3(c), which defines caste-based discrimination.

"There is complete vagueness in Regulation 3(c), and it can be misused. The language needs to be re-modified," the court had observed.

The court had directed that the UGC Regulations, 2012, would remain in force until further orders and until the validity of the 2026 regulations was examined.

While considering the petitions challenging the new framework, the bench had also indicated that the UGC could be directed to constitute a committee comprising academicians and eminent jurists familiar with the functioning of educational institutions, subject to the court's approval.

"Schools and colleges cannot exist in isolation or in a vacuum; they are an integral part of society," CJI Surya Kant had observed, questioning the possible social implications of creating divisions within campuses.

"How are people going to behave outside the campus if we create this kind of situation inside the campus?" the court had remarked.

The UGC (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2026, were introduced to address caste-based discrimination in colleges and universities. The framework requires higher education institutions to establish dedicated equity committees and helplines to address complaints from students belonging to Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs) and Other Backward Classes (OBCs).

However, the regulations triggered widespread protests in the national capital, with sections of students and other stakeholders raising concerns over certain provisions. The Centre's proposed committee is expected to revisit the framework and explore changes that balance the objective of preventing discrimination with the need to safeguard the rights and interests of every student.