UGC (Equity Regulations): Is This Really Equality?
- IJLLR Journal
- Feb 7
- 1 min read
Aditya Sharma
What is the University Grants Commission?
1]. It originated from 1944 recommendation (Sargent Report) (Central advisory body of education at that time).
2]. In 1945 initial UGC was formed for Aligarh, Banaras and central Delhi universities.
3]. It was formally inaugurated on 28 December 1953 and became a statutory body in 1956 through a parliamentary act. The act was named the UGC Act 1956.
Anti-discrimination rules by UGC;
1]. The UGC introduced Anti-ragging rules in 2009 ( bans ragging based on caste, creed, gender and colour).
2]. The first dedicated anti-discrimination rules were formed in 2012 under the name of UGC (Promotion of Equity in Higher Educational Institutions Regulations Act, 2012).
1]. Guidelines provided by the 2012 act;
a) Every college and institution must appoint an anti-discrimination officer.
b) Establishment of EOC (Equal Opportunity Cells) in every college.
c) A 60-day deadline is prescribed for the final disposal of the complaint made,
d) It includes provisions to penalise those who make false or malicious claims.
UGC (Promotion of Equity in Higher Educational Institutions Regulation Act, 2026);
1]. Guidelines provided by 2026 act;a) For the first time, OBCs were explicitly included alongside SC, ST, gender and PWD.
b) Every institution is required to set up EOC.
c) Time limits shortened, i.e., acknowledgement of complaint within 24 hours and disposal of complaint within 15 working days.
