The Supreme Court of India on Thursday stayed the University Grants Commission’s Equity Regulations, 2026, which were notified on January 23, 2026. Until further orders, the older UGC regulations issued in 2012 will continue to remain in force.
Several petitioners had challenged the new rules in the apex court, calling them arbitrary, exclusionary, discriminatory, and against the Constitution as well as the UGC Act of 1956. A Constitution Bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant directed that the regulations be kept on hold until detailed hearings on the petitions are completed.
Supreme Court stays the University Grants Commission (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, notified on January 23, 2026 which was challenged by various petitioners as being arbitrary, exclusionary, discriminatory and in violation of the Constitution… pic.twitter.com/KUuXgEMntL
— ANI (@ANI) January 29, 2026
Certain provisions “capable of misuse”
The bench ordered that the disputed regulations should not be implemented for now, until the court completes detailed hearings on the petitions.
During the hearing, the court said that some provisions could be misused. It also said that the rules were not clearly defined and lacked proper procedural safeguards.
