GG News Bureau
New Delhi 27th January :The Union government and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are facing mounting political pressure following widespread backlash against the University Grants Commission’s (UGC) newly proposed Equity Regulations. The controversy has escalated with the resignation of a senior bureaucrat and several BJP party workers in Uttar Pradesh, turning the policy debate into a potential political flashpoint.
The most prominent resignation came from Alankar Agnihotri, City Magistrate of Bareilly, who stepped down citing concerns over the implications of the new UGC regulations. In his resignation letter, Agnihotri expressed apprehension that the draft rules could adversely affect the rights of children from the general, upper-caste community. His move has added administrative weight to a protest movement largely driven by political and social groups.
The dissent has also spread within the BJP’s organisational ranks. In Noida, BJP Yuva Morcha vice-president Raju Pandit resigned from his post, describing the regulations as a “black law.” In Lucknow, at least 11 office-bearers from the Bakshi Ka Talaab assembly constituency submitted collective resignations, signalling discontent at the grassroots level of the ruling party.
The UGC Equity Regulations mandate the establishment of Equal Opportunity Centres in all universities and colleges to support students and staff from disadvantaged groups, including Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Other Backward Classes (OBC), Economically Weaker Sections (EWS), and persons with disabilities. The rules also require institutions to set up Equality Helplines, appoint Equity Ambassadors, and form committees to investigate complaints of discrimination.
A key point of contention among critics is the absence of penal provisions for filing false complaints. Protesters argue that earlier UGC regulations included safeguards against misuse, which have now been removed in the 2026 draft, raising fears of arbitrary or malicious allegations.
Politically, the issue poses a delicate challenge for the BJP. Upper-caste voters have historically formed a crucial part of the party’s support base, particularly in northern states such as Uttar Pradesh. Political analysts note that similar protests in 2018 against amendments to the SC/ST Act contributed to electoral setbacks for the BJP in several states.
At the same time, the party must balance its commitment to social justice and constitutional equality without alienating other communities. With caste dynamics already influencing recent electoral outcomes, the UGC regulations could reopen social fault lines if not addressed carefully.
As the debate intensifies, the Centre faces pressure to clarify safeguards, consult stakeholders, and prevent the policy from becoming a broader political liability ahead of crucial state and national contests.
