The political implications could be significant if the controversy feeds into a wider perception among upper-caste voters that the BJP is taking them for granted. At the same time, any rollback or dilution of the regulations could provide Opposition parties with an opportunity to accuse the government of compromising on safeguards against caste discrimination.
The Samajwadi Party, for instance, has backed the regulations while saying that no section should face injustice, positioning itself on the social-justice side of the debate.
The Supreme Court had earlier flagged specific concerns with the 2026 regulations, including the need for a separate definition of ‘caste-based discrimination’ under Regulation 3(1)(c), when Regulation 3(1)(e) already provides a broad definition of ‘discrimination’. It had also questioned why ragging was excluded from the scope of the regulations despite being a common form of harassment in educational institutions.
The apex court had said the language of the regulations appeared ‘prima facie vague’ and was ‘capable of misuse’.
Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, appearing for one of the petitioners, had challenged Regulation 3(1)(c), which defines caste-based discrimination as discrimination ‘only on the basis of caste or tribe’ against members of the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes.
The regulations were notified by the UGC on 13 January with the stated aim of addressing discrimination in higher educational institutions and promoting equity and inclusion, particularly for students from marginalised communities. The rules provide for equity committees, helplines and monitoring mechanisms to address complaints of discrimination.
The Centre’s statement in the Supreme Court on Thursday leaves the fate of the controversial regulations open, but the political stakes are already clear: any decision on the rules will have to balance demands for stronger protection against caste discrimination with the growing resentment they have triggered among sections of the BJP’s upper-caste support base.
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