UGC new rules 2026: equity regulations, Supreme Court stay, assistant professor rules and degrees

UGC new rules kya hai: the Equity Regulations 2026 in simple words

The University Grants Commission (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2026 appeared in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, No. 40, on 13 January 2026. They replaced the 2012 regulations of the same name and applied to "all the higher education institutions in India".

What the rules asked every college and university to do:

1. Set up an Equal Opportunity Centre with a professor as Coordinator. A college with fewer than five teachers could use its affiliating university's centre.
2. Form an Equity Committee chaired by the head of the institution, with three senior teachers, one non-teaching staff member, two civil society members and two students as special invitees. The committee had to include OBC, SC, ST, women and persons with disabilities.
3. Run a 24-hour Equity Helpline and an online portal to report discrimination. The reporter's identity is kept confidential on request.
4. Create Equity Squads and name an Equity Ambassador in every department, hostel and library.
5. Take an undertaking from every student, teacher and staff member not to discriminate.

How a complaint was to be handled:

Punishment for colleges, not students: if a UGC enquiry found that an institution did not follow the rules, it could be barred from UGC schemes, barred from offering degree programmes, barred from online and distance programmes, or removed from the lists UGC keeps under Sections 2(f) and 12B of the UGC Act.

Why are the UGC new rules controversial? The general category question

The debate centres on Regulation 3(1)(c). It defined "caste-based discrimination" as discrimination "only on the basis of caste or tribe against the members of the scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, and other backward classes".

The wider definition of "discrimination" in Regulation 3(1)(e) covered any stakeholder treated unfairly on grounds of religion, race, caste, gender, place of birth or disability. But the caste-specific definition named only SC, ST and OBC members. Critics, including several petitioners in the Supreme Court, say this leaves general category students without the same protection. The 2019 case that led to these rules asks for stronger safeguards for SC and ST students. The court is hearing both together.

These rules did not change reservation in admissions or jobs. They dealt with how complaints of discrimination are handled on campus.

Where they came from: the 2026 rules grew out of Abeda Salim Tadvi v. Union of India (W.P.(C) No. 1149/2019), a public interest case on caste discrimination in higher education. In its order of 15 September 2025, the Supreme Court recorded the Solicitor General's statement that public suggestions on the draft regulations had been reviewed by an expert committee and were with UGC, "the competent authority to notify the regulations". UGC notified the final text four months later.

UGC new rules Supreme Court: stayed, and what happens next

The 20 August 2026 order gives UGC four weeks to file a counter affidavit and petitioners two weeks after that to reply. It adds: "It will be appreciated if an appropriate decision with respect thereto is also taken before the next date of hearing."

So, are the UGC new rules implemented or not? No. On 20 October 2026 the 2026 rules remain in abeyance. Colleges follow the 2012 equity regulations. A stay pauses the rules; it does not delete them. No rollback or replacement has been notified as of 20 October 2026.

UGC new rules for assistant professor: what is draft and what is in force

In force now: the UGC Minimum Qualifications Regulations, 2018, with amendments. The 2nd Amendment of 30 June 2023, in force from 1 July 2023, says: "NET/SET/SLET shall be the minimum criteria for the direct recruitment to the post of Assistant Professor for all Higher Education Institutions."

Still a draft: the Draft UGC (Minimum Qualifications for Appointment and Promotion of Teachers and Academic Staff) Regulations, 2025, released by Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on 6 January 2025 for public feedback, per PIB. On 20 October 2026 it is not among UGC's notified regulations. It will apply only once notified.

What the draft proposes:

• NET subject over degree subject: if your NET/SET subject differs from your UG or PG subject, you can be appointed assistant professor in the NET/SET subject. The same applies to the PhD subject, for assistant, associate and full professor.
• Assistant professor eligibility: a 4-year UG degree with 75% or a PG degree with 55%, plus a PhD; or a PG degree with 55% plus NET (UGC, CSIR, ICAR) or SET/SLET; or an M.E./M.Tech with 55%.
• 5% relaxation in UG or PG marks for SC, ST, OBC (non-creamy layer), EWS and persons with disabilities.
• PhD mandatory for promotion to Academic Level 12, Associate Professor (Level 13A) and Professor (Level 14).
• Arts, music, yoga and drama: a UG degree plus five years of professional experience and State or National level achievement can qualify.
• Vice-Chancellor: open also to people with ten years at a senior level in industry, public administration or public sector undertakings.

Preparing for NET? Read our UGC NET December 2026 guide and the December 2026 registration news.

UGC new rules for PhD admission

No new PhD regulation has been notified in 2026. Under the UGC PhD Regulations, 2022 (7 November 2022), you can apply for a PhD after a master's degree with 55%, or straight after a 4-year bachelor's degree with 75%, with a 5% relaxation for SC, ST, OBC (non-creamy layer), EWS and differently-abled candidates.

UGC rules on degrees, twice-yearly admission and two degrees at once

These are in force under the UGC UG and PG Degree Regulations, 2025 (Gazette dated 2 April 2025):

• Biannual admission: colleges "prepared to handle biannual admissions may admit students twice a year, in July/August and January/February". It is optional for the college.
• Any stream, any degree: whatever subjects you took in Class 12, you can join any UG discipline if you clear the national or university entrance exam for it.
• Two degrees at once: a student "can pursue two UG programmes simultaneously", and the same for PG, under UGC's guidelines.
• Faster or slower degree: an Accelerated Degree (up to 10% of seats) or an Extended Degree of up to two extra semesters, to be treated on par by employers and bodies like UPSC.
• Attendance is decided by each institution.

See also our reports on UGC's revised degree list and deemed university status for state colleges.

UGC rules for foreign university campuses in India

The UGC foreign campus regulations (Gazette dated 8 November 2023) are in force. A foreign university must rank in the top 500 globally, overall or by subject, or "possess outstanding expertise in a particular area", to apply on fhei.ugc.ac.in. One recent result: CU Denver got a UGC letter of intent for Hyderabad.

What this means for students and teachers in Gujarat

All these UGC rules apply equally to Gujarat's state universities, private universities and affiliated colleges. Until the Supreme Court decides, a student facing discrimination should use the existing grievance system: the college's Equal Opportunity Cell and SC/ST Cell, and the Ombudsperson appointed under the UGC (Redressal of Grievances of Students) Regulations, 2023. Teaching job aspirants in Gujarat should go by the 2018 regulations and their amendments until UGC notifies the final teacher regulations.