Hundreds of Delhi University students protested Tuesday, demanding the implementation of the UGC Equity Regulations 2026. Organized by the All India Students’ Association (AISA) and other groups, the protest highlighted concerns over a judicial stay on the regulations.
Equity March Demands Action Against Discrimination
Protesters carried placards and chanted slogans, stating the judicial stay hinders efforts to combat caste-based discrimination in higher education. Students argued the regulations are vital safeguards for Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC) students.
The demands align with the proposed ‘Rohith Act.’ This act calls for a national law to prevent caste and identity-based discrimination in Indian higher education. It is named after Rohith Vemula, a University of Hyderabad student who died by suicide in 2016, allegedly due to caste discrimination.
Regulations Stem from Years of Student Movements
Students stated the UGC Equity Regulations 2026 are a result of prolonged campus movements. These movements aimed to compel educational institutions to address systemic exclusion. Protesters claimed the current stay leaves marginalized students vulnerable.
Former Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union (JNUSU) president Nitish addressed the gathering. He stated that student activism forced the UGC to introduce the regulations. He asserted that the stay indicates deep-rooted casteism within institutions.
The protest concluded with a public meeting. Speakers reiterated the call for legally binding guidelines under the ‘Rohith Act.’ Organizers warned that students will not accept delays or dilution of equity measures.