Mayawati defends new UGC rules

Lucknow: The BSP chief has reacted to the new UGC rules. Mayawati has defended the new UGC rules that mandate the formation of equity committees in higher education institutions. She said that the opposition to this move by some people from the general category is completely unjustified. However, Mayawati cautioned that these rules should have been implemented after wider consultation to avoid social tension.

In several posts on X, Mayawati said that the UGC’s rules on promoting equality in higher education institutions, 2026, aimed at eliminating caste-based discrimination in colleges and universities, are being wrongly portrayed as discriminatory by people with a ‘casteist mentality’.

She said, “The opposition to some provisions of the new UGC rules regarding the formation of ‘equity committees’ to address caste-based discrimination in government colleges and private universities is only coming from those in the general category who have a casteist mentality, and they are calling it a conspiracy and discriminatory. This is completely unjustified.”

The BSP chief said that her party believes it would have been better if everyone had been taken into confidence before implementing such rules. Governments and institutions should ensure that such steps do not lead to social tension in the country. She also appealed to Dalits and backward classes not to fall prey to the provocative statements of selfish and opportunistic leaders.

Mayawati said, “In such matters, Dalits and OBCs should also not fall under the influence of the provocative statements of their own selfish and compromised leaders who keep doing dirty politics under their guise. These sections should remain vigilant.”

It may be noted that the UGC notified the new rules on January 13, making it mandatory for all higher education institutions to constitute equity committees to address discrimination complaints and promote inclusion. According to the rules, these committees must include members from Other Backward Classes, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, persons with disabilities, and women. The 2026 regulations replace the UGC’s 2012 equity regulations, which were largely advisory in nature. This move has sparked protests from students in several states, including Uttar Pradesh, with critics alleging that the rules could be misused.

Addressing these concerns, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan assured on Tuesday that there would be no harassment or discrimination under the new framework. Pradhan said, “I want to humbly assure everyone that no one will face any kind of trouble, there will be no discrimination, and no one will be allowed to misuse the rules in the name of discrimination.”