LiveSC hearing on UGC regulations Live: SC stays UGC's new regulations, next hearing on March 19
SC hearing on UGC regulations Live Updates: The plea challenging UGC's new regulations has been started in the SC bench led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi will take up the matter for hearing later in the day today.

The Supreme Court is hearing a batch of petitions challenging UGC's new regulations on Thursday, January 29. The UGC's new regulations has created a wide spread controversy as critics argued that it was one-sided and discriminatory against general category students.
According to the supreme court, the bench led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi will take up the matter for hearing later in the day today. The petitions against UGC's new regulations have been filed by Advocate Vineet Jindal, Mrityunjay Tiwari and Rahul Dewan.
UGC has recently set a new set of regulations - Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions Regulations, 2026 to constitute a structured framework for grievance redressal and support disadvantaged groups across universities and colleges. Meanwhile, UGC's new regulations has created an uproar among students, teachers and social groups with anguish expressed over how the terminology - "Caste-based discrimination" is defined in the UGC regulations.
Live updates : SC hearing on UGC regulations Live Updates: What is UGC act and what's the controversy
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1:52 PM (IST) January 29, 2026
CJI- 'UGC regulations 2012 will continue in force till further orders'
In exercise of Art 142, the CJI has directed that UGC regulations 2012 will continue in force till further orders.
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1:45 PM (IST) January 29, 2026
Social media reactions on SC's directions
"A huge victory
The Supreme Court has put a stay on Modi's black law; the 2012 law will remain valid
CJI Suryakant erupted strongly on UGC and said
If we do not intervene, it will have dangerous consequences; society will divide and it will lead to serious repercussions," read a X post.
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1:19 PM (IST) January 29, 2026
SC stays UGC's new regulations
Advocate Vishnu Shankar has said that SC paused UGC's new regulations. The next hearing will be heard on March 19.
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1:01 PM (IST) January 29, 2026
'Society needs to grow together' - remarks CJI
CJI asked SG Tushar mehta to think of a committee of some eminent persons to look into it so that the society can grow together and with no such differentiators.
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12:50 PM (IST) January 29, 2026
'This definition under section 3c is completely hit by Article 14'; argues Adv. Vishnu Jain
"This definition under section 3c is completely hit by Article 14 when discrimination is already defined and it cannot be assumed that discrimination is only against one segment," argued Advocate Vishnu Jain.
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12:46 PM (IST) January 29, 2026
'I am seeking a stay on this definition of caste based discrimination'; argues Adv.Vishnu Jain
Adv. Vishnu Jain is currently arguing. The advocate has sought a stay on UGC's new regulations. "I am seeking a stay on this definition of caste based discrimination. Statute cannot presume discrimination will be against only a particular section," the advocate argued.
- Reported by Gonika Arora
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12:13 PM (IST) January 29, 2026
Students stage massive protests in Lucknow University against UGC regulations
Students have staged massive protests in Lucknow University against UGC regulations. As per students, the protests will continue until it is withdrawn as it is not in the interest of the students and would create divisions among students in the university campuses. Police has been deployed to maintain the law and order situations.
- Reported by Vishal Singh
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11:28 AM (IST) January 29, 2026
Plea in Supreme Court challenging UGC regulations
A plea has been filed in the Supreme Court challenging the UGC Higher Education Regulations. The plea was filed by Advocate Vineet Jindal
Following directions from the Supreme Court, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has set a new set of regulations - Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions Regulations, 2026 to constitute a structured framework for grievance redressal and support disadvantaged groups across universities and colleges. The petition was filed by the mothers of Rohith Vemula and Payal Tadvi.
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10:58 AM (IST) January 29, 2026
SC hearing today on UGC regulations
The Supreme Court will hear petitions against UGC's new regulations today, January 29. According to the supreme court, the bench led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi will take up the matter for hearing later in the day today. The petitions against UGC's new regulations have been filed by Advocate Vineet Jindal, Mrityunjay Tiwari and Rahul Dewan.
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10:43 AM (IST) January 29, 2026
UGC regulations create widespread controversy
The UGC's new regulations has created an uproar over social media, with anguish expressed over how the terminology - "Caste-based discrimination" is defined in the UGC regulation. "Caste-based discrimination means discrimination only on the basis of caste or tribe against the members of the scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, and other backward classes," as mentioned on the UGC regulations. #ShameonUGC is one of the top trends on micro blogging platform - X as netizens are criticising the UGC's new regulations as anti-general category laws
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10:43 AM (IST) January 29, 2026
Why UGC has come up with Higher Education Regulations?
Following directions from the Supreme Court, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has set a new set of regulations - Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions Regulations, 2026 to constitute a structured framework for grievance redressal and support disadvantaged groups across universities and colleges. The petition was filed by the mothers of Rohith Vemula and Payal Tadvi.
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10:43 AM (IST) January 29, 2026
UGC's new regulations and the controversy
The UGC's new regulations has created an uproar over social media, with anguish expressed over how the terminology - "Caste-based discrimination" is defined in the UGC regulations.
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10:42 AM (IST) January 29, 2026
What's there in UGC's new regulations
Under UGC's new regulations, the centre will be responsible for implementation of equity-related policies and programmes, to provide academic, financial guidance to disadvantaged groups and to coordinate with authorities and civil society.
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10:42 AM (IST) January 29, 2026
Know about UGC act
As per the UGC's new rules, every higher education institution should establish an equal opportunity centre and will coordinate with Civil society groups, police and district administration, faculty members, staff, local media, district administration and police. The centre will coordinate with District and State Legal Services Authorities to facilitate legal aid.