The Supreme Court today stayed the operation of the University Grants Commission (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2026, notified on January 13, observing that the new rules appear vague and capable of misuse. A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi passed the order in a batch of three petitions, which contend that the 2026 Regulations dilute existing safeguards against discrimination by narrowing the definition of caste-based discrimination. How Regulations 2026 Emerged:The University Grants Commission (UGC), which is India’s statutory higher education regulator, notified the Regulations 2026 on January 13, replacing the earlier 2012 anti-discrimination framework. Political and Social Response:Immediately after notification, the 2026 Regulations sparked widespread debate and campus protests across several states. Moreover, multiple petitions were filed in the Supreme Court challenging the constitutional validity of the Regulations.