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As Supreme Court stays UGC Regulations of 2026, read about the 2012 Rules that are currently in force and the key differences between them

OpIndia Staff
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As Supreme Court stays UGC Regulations of 2026, read about the 2012 Rules that are currently in force and the key differences between them

On Thursday (29th January), the Supreme Court of India put a stay on the implementation of the draconian University Grants Commission (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations of 2026.

For the unversed, the new rules were notified on 13th January this year. The matter was heard on Thursday by a Bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi.

The apex court held that the UGC Regulations of 2026 were vague, capable of misuse and lacked essential safeguards. As such, the Supreme Court directed the statutory body to continue with the 2012 regulations on ‘caste-based discrimination’ until further orders are given.

Key provisions in the 2012 UGC Rules

  1. These regulations applied to all higher educational institutions in India. These included universities, colleges, and deemed-to-be varsities
  2. The primary focus was to promote ‘equality’ among students of all sections of the society. Every higher educational institution was directed to safeguard the interests of the students without any prejudice to their caste, creed,
  3. religion, language, ethnicity, gender, or disability.
  4. A special emphasis, however, was laid on the ‘treatment’ of students belonging to the Scheduled Castes or the Scheduled Tribes.
  5. The regulations explicitly stated that educational institutions cannot ‘discriminate’ against SCs and STs by breaching reservation policies, mishandling applications or withholding original documents to force fee payments
  6. The rules also barred labelling students as ‘reserved category’ or announcing the caste or religion of students in class.
  7. UGC Regulations of 2012 also sought to prevent ‘discrimination’ in the evaluation of exam papers, issuance of library books and access to laboratories or reading halls.
  8. These rules also banned segregation of students in hostels, mess halls, canteens or playgrounds.
  9. It was mandatory for every institution to establish an ‘Equal Opportunity Cell’ and appoint an ‘Anti-Discrimination Officer’
  10. This Anti-Discrimination Officer could not be below the rank of Professor (in case of universities) and not below the rank of Associate Professor (in case of colleges).
  11. The Higher Education Institution was obligated to decide on a complaint within a maximum period of 60 days from the date of receipt. The maximum period to appeal against the complaint was set to 90 days.
  12. The UGC Rules of 2012 stated that punishments for ‘discrimination’ must be commensurate with the nature of the act.
  13. Punishment against students was taken in accordance with institutional statutes, while punishment against teachers is governed by the service rules and statutes.
  14. It was mandatory for all colleges and universities to upload all ‘anti-discrimination’ measures on their official websites
UGC-Regulations-2012Download

Key differences between the UGC Rules 2012 and the UGC Rules 2016

Some of the key differences between the two sets of regulations postulated by the University Grants Commission are stated below:

  1. The 2012 regulations did not limit the definition of discrimination to select caste groups only. However, the 2026 UGC guidelines explicitly left out General Category students. ‘Caste-based discrimination’ in the new regulation was defined as discrimination only on the basis of caste or tribe against the members of the scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, and other backward classes.
  2. The ⁠2012 guidelines had no mention of students belonging to the Other Backward Classes (OBCs). The 2026 Regulations included OBC students as a protected category.
  3. ⁠The 2012 UGC Rules had provisions for SC/ST students, but it also emphasised protecting ‘all students’ while addressing the issue of discrimination.
  4. Maximum period of appeal has been reduced to 30 days in the 2026 UGC Regulations from 90 days as was the case with the 2012 UGC Rules
  5. ⁠Neither the UGC Regulations of 2012 nor 2026 specified punishment for filing false complaints.

A detailed explanation of the draconian provisions of the University Grants Commission (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2026, can be read here.

24 instances when Saraswati Puja came under attack in 2026: Read how Islamists attacked the Hindu festival in India and Bangladesh

Aditi
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24 instances when Saraswati Puja came under attack in 2026: Read how Islamists attacked the Hindu festival in India and Bangladesh

Targeted attacks on Hindus celebrating their festivals have continued into this year, with 24 incidents of attacks on Saraswati Visarjan being reported in India and Bangladesh. The Hindu festival was targeted in various states, including Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand, Tripura, West Bengal and Gujarat. A couple of such incidents happened in neighbouring Bangladesh, where Hindus are in the minority. Here is a look at all 24 incidents impacting Saraswati Visarjan in 2026-

Muslim mob attacked Hindu devotees in the Vaishali district, Bihar

A Muslim mob attacked and pelted stones at Hindu devotees near a mosque as they were returning after immersing the Saraswati idol in the Navanagar area of Vaishali district, Bihar. The incident came to light on 27th January. The attack happened in the Navanagar market area when the Hindu devotees taking out the Saraswati idol immersion procession were forced to change their route by some members of the Muslim community. A heated argument took place between the Hindu devotees and the Muslims.

The situation turned to normal temporarily, but violence erupted when the Hindu devotees were returning from the immersion. A Muslim mob assaulted a Hindu devotee, and when other devotees protested, they were attacked with sticks and swords. Muslims were also stoned from nearby rooftops, creating panic in the area and forcing residents to flee for safety. Several Hindu devotees were injured and taken to the Bidupur Primary Health Centre and private nursing homes for treatment. Videos of the attack went viral on social media. The situation was controlled after police intervention. Cases were registered against multiple persons.

Houses of Hindu devotees attacked in Lohardaga, Jharkhand

Hindu devotees taking out the Saraswati puja procession were brutally attacked by a Muslim mob on 25th January in Baridih village, under the Kudu police station area of Lohardaga, Jharkhand. The attack happened after the vehicle carrying the Saraswati idol slightly touched the roof of the house of a Muslim family. A mob of Muslims gathered at the place, and by the early morning, the situation further deteriorated. Hindus and their houses were attacked. Three people sustained serious injuries and were taken to a local hospital for treatment. Upon receiving the information, police from the Kudu police station and a bike squad from the Border Security Force arrived at the scene and brought the situation under control.

Muslims opposed the playing of the ‘Jai Shri Ram’ hymn in Darbhanga, Bihar

In Alinagar, Darbhanga, Bihar, a mob of Muslims opposed the playing of ‘Jai Shri Ram’ hymns by Hindus on a DJ on 25th January. The dispute escalated into violence during Saraswati Puja idol immersion on 26th January. Muslims pelted stones at Hindu devotees and the procession. As the immersion procession passed through Jayantipur village on 26th January, stone-pelting by members of the Muslim community began. According to eyewitnesses, the attack caused panic and theft. Three Hindu devotees were injured. Notably, Darbhanga Senior Superintendent of Police downplayed the initial communal nature of the incident by claiming that the entire dispute began over a motorcycle and later took a communal turn. Police personnel were deployed in the area to maintain peace. The Benipur Sub-Divisional Police Officer personally monitored the situation to prevent a recurrence of violence.

Muslims armed with machetes and sticks tried to disrupt Saraswati Puja in Tripura’s Kailashahar

16 Muslims armed with machetes and sticks tried to disrupt a Saraswati Puja in Katal Dighirpar area of Kailashahar, Tripura, on 24th January, which led to violent clashes. Bharatiya Janata Party Mandal president Pritam Ghosh said that the group created unrest near the puja venue. “As soon as we rushed to the spot after receiving information, they attacked us indiscriminately. The situation turned more violent. These miscreants were trying to replicate the dangerous environment of Bangladesh. We must fight unitedly against such forces,” Ghosh said, who sustained injuries. The house of the district president of the Bharatiya Janata Party youth wing, Arup Dhar, was vandalised. An unofficial office of the Bharatiya Janata Party in Katal Dighirpar was also set on fire. Police personnel were deployed to control the situation.

Saraswari Puja disrupted in Hajipur, Bihar

A Saraswati Puja was disrupted in Hajipur, Bihar, by a local station house officer, leading to protests by villagers on 24th January. The incident happened in Ward No. 7 of Teknari Panchayat in Vaishali district, when the police station chief arrived at the Saraswati Puja pandal during the aarti and ordered that the DJ be stopped. According to Hindu devotees, no DJ was playing at the time, and the interference of the police resulted in the halting of the Aarti. The incident outraged villagers who surrounded the police personnel in large numbers. Angry villagers refused to proceed with idol immersion without their grievances being addressed.

Saraswati Puja discontinued in a school in Katihar, Bihar

Saraswati Puja was prohibited in a school in Bindtoli of Katihar district, Bihar, on 24th January, after a teacher, Shahil Kumar, had objected to the ritual application of Abir (colour) to him last year. Saraswati Puja had been a recurring annual practice at the upgraded middle school in Bindtoli, located under Sohtha Southern Panchayat in the Falaka police station area. However, the practice was discontinued after Shahil Kumar requested the school administration to ban it. The decision caused difficulty for Hindu devotees, many of whom had to travel to other locations to perform the puja.

This led to protests near the school premises on 24th January, prompting intervention by Falaka Police Station officer Ravi Kumar Rai and village head representative Amit Gupta. Local representatives, including deputy head Pawan Kumar Singh and ward member Upendra Mandal, along with villagers Shyamlal Mahato, Tuntun Sah, Shekhon Mahato and Jairam Mahato, demanded that the school administration ensure the proper organisation of Saraswati Puja every year. The school’s principal, Laxman Mandal, acknowledged fault in the handling of the matter and assured the gathering that formal worship of Goddess Saraswati would resume annually from the following year, after which tensions subsided.

Stone pelting on Saraswati immersion procession in Hazaribagh, Jharkhand

Hindu devotees taking part in Saraswati Puja and idol immersion procession in Beltu village in Keredari block of Hazaribagh district, Jharkhand, were attacked by members of the Muslim community at night on 24th January. A scuffle regarding the playing of Saraswati bhajans during the immersion procession escalated into stone pelting and violence by Muslims. Several Hindu devotees and police personnel were injured in the attack. Hazaribagh Superintendent of Police Anjani Anjan and Deputy Commissioner Shashi Prakash Singh reached the site late at night to monitor the situation.

Bombs hurled at Hindu devotees during Saraswati Puja in Jharkhand

Some miscreants hurled bombs at Hindu devotees performing Saraswati Puja in Ward Number 14 of Gohariyon village, Bhagalpur, under the Lodipur police station area in Jharkhand. Several devotees were seriously injured in the attack and were taken to Mayaganj Hospital for medical treatment. Senior Superintendent of Police Pramod Kumar Yadav reached Mayaganj Hospital and met the injured, enquiring about their condition. City Superintendent of Police Shailendra Singh, the Deputy Superintendent of Police, and the Lodipur police station chief camped in the village to bring the situation under control. The accused were identified by the police, who assured strict action against them.

Saraswati idol desecrated in Dibrugarh, Assam

A Goddess Saraswati idol was desecrated and damaged by a few unidentified miscreants in the Jalan Nagar labour line in Dibrugarh, Assam, on 24th January. The incident hurt the sentiments of local Hindus, who demanded strict action against the culprits.

TMC leader threatened students who organised Saraswati Puja in West Bengal

In South Kolkata, West Bengal, a TMC politician named Daud Alam Molla threatened Hindu students who organised Saraswati Puja. The incident came to light when a female Hindu student studying at the government-sponsored Jogesh Chandra Chaudhuri College in South Kolkata informed that an All India Trinamool Congress leader, Daud Alam Molla, threatened them against organising Saraswati Puja.  A video of the victim went viral on social media. In the viral video, the victim stated, “Daud Alam Molla is standing outside. He has threatened me that he will f*** my lawyer.” Notably, Jogesh Chandra Chaudhuri Law College is the alma mater of West Bengal Chief Minister and All India Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee. Earlier, in January 2025, Mohammad Shabbir Ali, the then General Secretary of the West Bengal State Trinamool Chhatra Parishad, had threatened Hindu students with rape and murder if they dared to perform Saraswati Puja.

Saraswati idol desecrated in Muksudpur Upazila of Gopalganj, Bangladesh

A Goddess Saraswati idol was desecrated in Muksudpur Upazila of Gopalganj, Bangladesh, on 23rd January, on the day of the Saraswati Puja. According to Muksudpur Police Station Officer-in-Charge Abdullah Al Mamun, the incident took place at the public puja pavilion in Paschim Ujan Kandani Para village of Ujani Union of the upazila after the Saraswati Puja. He said that after the Friday (23 January 2026) puja, the worshippers left the temple around midnight. Then some miscreants desecrated the idol by twisting the neck of the Saraswati murti and hanging its head. Locals found out about the desecration a day later and informed the police. The police said that CCTV cameras were removed before the act was committed.

Saraswati Puja Sonpur, Chapra, Bihar

Saraswati Puja celebrations were disrupted after a drunk man named Devnarayan Pandey started abusing Goddess Saraswati and other Hindu deities at a Puja pandalnear the Baba Hariharnath Temple in Sonpur, Chapra, Bihar, on 23rd January. Pandey also smoked near the pandal venue. When the locals attempted to stop him, he made offensive remarks about Hindu gods and goddesses. After a video of the incident went viral, Devnarayan Pandey was seen apologising with folded hands the next day.

Dancers danced to obscene songs during Saraswati Puja in Surat, Gujarat,

A Saraswati Puja celebration was spoiled on 23rd January after female dancers were made to dance to obscene songs inside the sacred puja pandal, a sacred temporary shrine where the celebrations take place. The incident happened in Anand Park Society in the Katargam Wade Road area, where women dancers were made to dance to vulgar Bhojpuri and Hindi songs. Devotees present at the event were left embarrassed and uncomfortable. Videos of the incident went viral on social media.

TMC members locked a temple, preventing Hindus from performing puja in West Bengal

A Saraswati Puja celebration was disrupted in Kamarhati city in the North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal by TMC members on 23rd January. Some members of TMC locked up the Belghadia Sarbajanin Sri Durga Chowk Society temple, preventing devotees from performing Saraswati Puja. Local police refused to intervene and unlock the temple, leaving local Hindu devotees outraged.

A fight among TMC members disrupted Saraswati Puja in Cooch Behar, West Bengal

An infighting in the TMC factions led to the disruption in the Saraswati Puja celebration at the Dinhata College in the Cooch Behar district of West Bengal on 23rd January. This led the devotees attending the celebrations to panic and run for safety, which added to the chaos. Viral videos of the incident showed how the college campus was turned into a battlefield due to the fight between the TMC members. After learning about the incident, the in-charge of Dinhata police station and the Sub-Divisional Police Officer reached the college campus to take notice of the situation.

Saraswati Puja disrupted by a drunk man in Surguja, Chhattisgarh

A Saraswati Puja being held at a Junapara Primary School in Gumgra in the Surguja district of Chhattisgarh was disrupted by a drunk government teacher named Buddheshwar Das on 23rd January. The teacher arrived at the school in an inebriated state and tried to take part in the Puja. When devotees suspected his behaviour and asked him whether he was drunk, he lied. After receiving information that the teacher had arrived at school drunk, Sarpanch Rupmaniya Maravi reached the school along with Panchayat representatives. A Gram Sabha was convened, during which a proposal was passed demanding the removal of teacher Buddheshwar Das from the school.

The cluster in charge was directed to conduct an inquiry, following which it was confirmed that the teacher had arrived at school after consuming alcohol. The inquiry report was forwarded to the Surguja District Education Officer with a recommendation for suspension.

Hindu students prevented from performing puja in a school with a majority of Muslim students in West Bengal

Some Hindu students were denied entry and prevented from performing the Saraswati Puja in Moynagadi Free Primary School in the North 24 Parganas, West Bengal, on 23rd January. The Hindu students had obtained permission from the school authorities to perform Saraswati Puja. However, on the day of the Puja, the school remained closed, and the permission was withdrawn. The reason cited for withdrawing the permission was that over 50% of the students in the school were Muslims. Subsequently, the Hindu students had to organise the Saraswati Puja outside the school on a footpath.

Convent with over 70% Hindu students denies permission to hold Saraswati Puja in Sakhaibari, Dharmanagar

Holy Cross Convent School in Sakhaibari, Dharmanagar, denied permission to Hindu students to perform Saraswati Puja at the school. Members of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad had approached Holy Cross Convent School on 16th January seeking permission on behalf of Hindu students to observe Basant Panchami on the school premises. On 22nd January, they visited the school again, reiterating their request as the school had over 70% Hindu students. However, the school administration rejected the request.

After the denial of permission, members of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad organised a demonstration in front ofthe school, demanding that Saraswati Puja, the Hindu festival dedicated to the goddess of knowledge, be permitted on campus. Parents of Hindu students also joined the protest, but the school administration did not grant permission. As tensions flared, police had to intervene to control the situation.

Hindu man thrashed by Muslims for taking part in the Saraswati Puja in Madhya Pradesh

A Bajrang Dal member, Sohel Thakur, was brutally attacked by a group of Muslim men in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, on 22nd January. The attacker targeted him for his involvement in preventing Love Jihad cases and actively participating in a Vasant Panchami Saraswati Puja event on 21st January.

A group of 10-15 Muslims attacked him when he went to the Malipura area for some work. The Muslim men from the Madargarh and Qazi Mohalla stopped him and began arguing with him. They attacked him with rods and other weapons. Thakur sustained a serious head injury and was taken to Ujjain District Hospital in a critical condition. Speaking to the media, Thakur said that he had been the target of the attackers for a long time because of his actions against Love Jihad incidents. An FIR was lodged against Sappan Mirza, Ehsan Mirza, Shadab, Salman and Rizwan.

Saraswati idol vandalised in Satkhira, Bangladesh

An idol of Goddess Saraswati was desecrated by miscreants in the Tetulia area of Satkhira, Bangladesh, a day before the Saraswati Puja celebrations on 23rd January. The miscreants discreetly entered the Puja venue at midnight and smashed the idol into pieces. The local Hindus found out about the incident in the morning and informed the police. They assured strict action against the perpetrators and started an investigation. As per reports, the incident happened after some radical organisations gave hate speeches against Saraswati Puja.

Man breaks idols of Hindu deities ahead of Saraswati Puja in Odisha

A man named M Krishnaraju mocked Hindu deities and desecrated their idols in a tribal school in Ambadola, in the Rayagada district of Odisha, on 16th January, days ahead of Saraswati Puja. Idols of Ganesha and Saraswati were donated to the school by some former students from the batches of 1997 and 1999. The attacker, who is a teacher by profession, used to mock the idols, saying that they cannot speak English. The incident hurt the sentiments of the Hindu community. Hindu Dharmarakshya Samiti, a Hindu organisation, took cognisance of the issue and filed a police complaint against the teacher and were seeking exemplary punishment against him.

Idols of Saraswati and Kali damaged in Nadia district, West Bengal

Several idols of Hindu deities were found vandalised in Shantipur in Nadia district, West Bengal, on 7th January. About 70-80 idols of Goddess Saraswati and Goddess Kali, prepared by a local sculptor, Jayanta Das, were found broken outside his workshop near the Loknath Temple. The idols had been prepared ahead of the Kali Puja and Saraswati Puja celebrations scheduled on 21st January and Kali Puja on 23rd January. The incident caused distress among devotees as well as artisans, for whom the festive season is a critical period for income and sustenance. The culprit was identified as Amit Dey, who committed the act in an intoxicated state.

Goddess Saraswati and Goddess Basanti idold damabed in the East Midnapore district of West Bengal

Idols of Hindu deities were damaged by some unidentified miscreants on the night of 4th January, weeks before Saraswati Puja, in Kanthal Potti, under the Garkamalpur Panchayat in the Mahishadal area of the East Midnapore district of West Bengal. The idols of Goddess Basanti and Goddess Saraswati were found desecrated on the morning of 5th January. The incident left the local Hindus hurt and outraged. They demanded strict action against the culprits. An investigation was initiated by the police into the incident.

School management comprising non-Hindus did not hold Saraswati Puja in Unakoti, Tripura

Saraswati Puja celebrations were not held at Nalakata High School in Pecharthal, under the Kumarghat subdivision in the Unakoti district of Tripura, this year. The school had a tradition of organising the Saraswati Puja every year. However, the celebrations did not take place this year as the majority of the members on the school Management Committee comprised non-Hindus. The school remained closed on the day of Saraswati Puja on 23rd January.

Many Hindu students and their parents reached the school in the morning on 23rd January to find the school gate locked. Hindu students stated that a majority of the SMC members belong to Christian, Chakma (Theravada Buddhist), and Muslim communities, and instead of holding discussions on the Puja, the school was closed.

Who is Rahul Dewan, the Tech Entrepreneur who moved the Supreme Court against UGC Regulations?

Shriti Sagar
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Who is Rahul Dewan, the Tech Entrepreneur who moved the Supreme Court against UGC Regulations?

The Supreme Court of India on Thursday, 29th January, stayed the University Grants Commission (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2026 and agreed to consider the urgent listing of a petition challenging the constitutional validity of the UGC Regulations, 2026. The move comes amid growing controversy over the new UGC framework, which critics say introduces a “draconian” and one-sided definition of caste-based discrimination in Indian higher education institutions.

The petition was mentioned before Chief Justice of India Surya Kant by advocate Parth Yadav, who appeared on behalf of social activist and entrepreneur Rahul Dewan. Urging the court to take up the matter at the earliest, Yadav argued that, if allowed to operate, the regulations could lead to fresh discrimination rather than preventing it. He submitted that the issue raises serious constitutional concerns and needs immediate judicial scrutiny.

Taking note of the submissions, the Supreme Court agreed to consider an urgent listing of the plea, signalling that the concerns raised around the new UGC regulations warrant closer examination by the apex court.

The petition challenges specific provisions of the UGC (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2026, notified on 23rd January this year. The plea contends that Regulations 3(1)(c), 8(b), and 8(c) violate Articles 14, 15, and 21 of the Constitution, which guarantee equality before law, protection against discrimination, and the right to life and dignity.

Who filed the Petition before the Supreme Court?

The plea has been filed by businessman and philanthropist Rahul Dewan, along with retired IAS officer Sanjay Dixit, Anubhav Pandey, and Rubal Padaliya. Among them, Rahul Dewan has emerged as the most vocal face of the challenge, speaking openly about why he believes the UGC regulations are dangerous and divisive.

Soon after filing the petition, Dewan spoke to OpIndia, explaining his concerns and the reasons for moving to the Supreme Court. According to him, the regulations are not about addressing genuine discrimination but about institutionalising a particular ideological narrative.

Rahul Dewan’s criticism of the UGC Regulations

Speaking to OpIndia, Rahul Dewan said the underlying intent of the regulations appeared deeply problematic. “The idea seems to be to turn every Hindu caste against the upper castes,” he said, adding that the framework was designed to create friction within Hindu society.

Dewan questioned the assumptions built into the rules, noting that the regulations label certain groups as oppressors without identifying who the oppressor is or what evidence supports such sweeping claims. He also warned that by selectively defining victims, the rules could end up empowering misuse.

Sharing his views on LinkedIn after filing the petition, Dewan described the guidelines as “divisive” and said they punish entire communities for historical wrongs without individual accountability. “Brahmins, and upper castes in general, are the most persecuted class of people in India today,” he wrote. “They’re being punished for what was purportedly done by their communities a thousand years ago. If this is not collective punishment, then what is?”

According to Dewan, laws meant to ensure fairness must protect everyone equally, not selectively exclude large sections of society from legal safeguards.

Who is Rahul Dewan?

Rahul Dewan is an entrepreneur, open source and agile evangelist, blogger, activist, amateur photographer, and a guy who sticks to yoga and meditation like clockwork. He built a software services business from scratch, grew it to almost 600 people over 20 years, and sold it to a US company in 2022. 

After leaving his company, he became an angel investor, investing in cool stuff like Ayurveda, surgical devices, synthetic biology, clean tech, food tech, and even films and docs. Back in 2006, he started a non-profit called Sarayu Foundation, focusing on non-formal education for kids from tough backgrounds. It’s helped over 1,000 children across Delhi and villages in eastern India through after-school classes in maths, music, English, and yoga, and by building safe spaces for them to learn and gain confidence.

In 2016, he took it further with SangamTalks, a YouTube channel that has exploded into a hub for Indian Knowledge Systems, history, science, maths, economics, arts, culture, environment, and travel. It has nearly 1000 talks from scholars and researchers, over 1600 long videos, and is available in six Indian languages, with English and Hindi leading. 

Dewan funds most of this from his own pocket and backs about 50 people or groups pushing to “rebuild the Indian Civilisation.” He has a B.Tech in Computer Science, a cert in ornithology, and some in creative writing. Dewan often describes himself as driven by the motto, “Do the right thing, and right things happen to you,” inspired by his spiritual guide, Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev.

The Hindu Fund and its long-term vision

One of Rahul Dewan’s primary goals for the next three to four years is to build what he calls the “₹1,000 crore Hindu Fund.” Operating under the Hindu Network Foundation, earlier implemented through Sarayu Foundation, the initiative aims to support individuals and organisations working to preserve and promote Sanatana Dharma and Indian civilisation.

Branded simply as “Hindu Fund,” the platform positions itself as a grant-making movement with minimal bureaucracy. Its guiding principle, “Trust by Default,” reflects Dewan’s belief that dharmic workers should be empowered, not burdened by red tape.

The fund supports initiatives across education, culture, history, civilisational studies, and social work, aligning with Dewan’s larger belief that Hindu society needs to reclaim its historical confidence and civilisational identity.

Background: Why the UGC Regulations triggered a backlash

The controversy around the UGC’s 2026 regulations stems from their narrow definition of caste-based discrimination. The 2026 regulations ruled out the general castes as victims of caste-based violence by restricting the category of victims to SCs, STs, and OBCs. There is no provision for general category students to raise a complaint when subjected to caste-based discrimination. 

The 2026 regulations not only assume that caste-based discrimination is only directed towards people from the SC, ST, and OBC communities, but, in a way, promote reverse caste-based discrimination by excluding general castes, which form a large section of the academic community, from protection.

The new framework is blatantly biased against students in general, leaving them with no institutional recourse if the rules are misapplied against them. This is why the 2026 regulations are facing outrage from people, primarily students, whose lives would be directly affected. 

Canada looking towards India for trade to diversify business partners and reduce dependence on US: Trump’s tariff wars may result in another deal

Rukma Rathore
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Canada looking towards India for trade to diversify business partners and reduce dependence on US: Trump’s tariff wars may result in another deal

The foreign policy of the United States, designed to impose its will on other nations, appears to have produced the opposite effect. The targeted parties, including key allies such as the European Union, are now actively seeking alternative relations and working to reduce their dependence on Washington. This has also contributed to a thaw in ties between significant economies like India and China.

Likewise, Canada, which was historically a close partner of the United States, has also joined the league as their diplomatic links have sharply declined. This downturn has been exacerbated by President Donald Trump’s frequent characterisation of Canada as the “51st US state,” threatening its sovereignty.

On the other hand, the previously strained links between Ottawa and New Delhi under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau seem to be improving as Canada aims to establish a robust trade partnership with the Modi government. Energy and essential minerals are going to form the foundation of this future alliance as the two nations restore their relationship after a protracted diplomatic schism.

Trade in energy and critical minerals, dig at global hegemons, praise for India and EU FTA

Canada’s Energy and Natural Resources Minister Timothy Hodgson said that India’s anticipated increase in energy demand presents a “great opportunity” for his country, which has substantial reserves of oil, gas and vital minerals. He remarked, “We produce 6% of the world’s oil today, and India gets less than 1% of its oil from Canada.” He mentioned that both nations would become stronger, more resilient and secure if that proportion reached a greater scale.

The comments were made to Bloomberg Television on 28th January (Wednesday) at the India Energy Week in Goa. He attended the program on the invitation of Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri. It was the first high-level participation of a cabinet minister from a Western country. Furthermore, Hodgson did not refrain from taking an indirect shot at the Trump administration during the event.

He said that exporting 98% of its energy to the United States was a “strategic blunder”, and saw an opportunity to work with India. “We used to be in a world where we sought to integrate with our closest trading partners and we now find that that integration is used for coercion or tariffs are used to gain leverage. Canada now needs to rewire its economy and build relationships beyond those with its neighbours,” he highlighted.

The minister also referred to the United States as “hegemons” and expressed, “What is happening in the world today is not a gradual economic transition. It is a rupture. The hegemons of the world have decided that the rules-based order is no longer how the world will work. They have decided that’s not the way the world’s going to work anymore.”

He described the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between India and the European Union as the “perfect” reaction to global hegemons that use tariffs and economic integration as intimidation tactics. He stressed that the former’s intention to sign the deal sent a strong statement in favour of free trade and dependable allies.

Hodgson pointed out, “What you just did with the EU signing, the mother of all deals, was a perfect example of how to say no (to hegemons). We’re not going to live in a world where the strongest put tariffs on everyone else. We’re going to live in a world where we believe in free trade, where we believe in trusted relationships.”

He even noted that trade between Canada and India is currently just $30 billion and Prime Minister Mark Carney wants to double this figure by the end of the decade.

India and Canada release a joint statement on energy cooperation

Puri and Hodgson had a meeting after which the former announced that a delegation would be sent to discuss joint efforts on crucial minerals. A joint statement was also released, which outlined Canada’s goal of becoming an “energy superpower” through a variety of exports, with India being seen as a “natural and symbiotic” partner because of its size and potential for long-term demand.

It read, “The importance of energy security and diverse energy supply chains. India, as a major consumer and Canada as a safe, secure and reliable supplier, can act in partnership to deepen trade and ensure stable and secure energy supplies. The two sides will collaborate to promote and strengthen cooperation across trade in the energy sector comprising services.”

Meanwhile, Canadian officials disclosed that as global trade dynamics change especially due to protectionist measures by the United States their country is firmly turning towards India to strengthen energy and vital mineral relations. They are additionally communicating with foreign partners to form fresh frameworks for the trading of important minerals including off-take agreements and strategic stockpiling.

This could entail supplying its “highest quality” uranium to assist India in reaching its objective of constructing 100 gigawatts of nuclear power by 2047. Canada’s 12 million-ton-per-year plant began production in June and is projected to expand to a capacity of 50 million tonnes and hence it is in a position to supply India with an abundance of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG).

Canada extends invitation to Union Minister Piyush Goyal

Canada has indicated that it intends to accelerate the start of formal negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA) with India marking a restart in bilateral trade engagement. The talks were put on hold in 2023 under the hostile Trudeau government. Maninder Sidhu, the country’s Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development has invited Piyush Goyal, the Minister of Commerce and Industry to visit the nation during the third week of next month.

An official conveyed, “Canada has expressed its desire to speed up the FTA negotiations,” reported The Times of India. The two nations have decided to restart the proposed accord with officials highlighting that the last two years have witnessed a dramatic shift in the global trade environment which necessitated a new strategy.

Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal earlier stated that Canada and India are finalising the terms of reference (ToR) to formally begin negotiations. The agreement’s scope and procedures would be underscored in the ToR. Brij Mohan Mishra and Bruce Christie have been selected as chief negotiators.

PM Mark Carney to land in India to ink crucial deals

Dinesh Patnaik, India’s High Commissioner to Canada, told Reuters that Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney would likely come to India during the first week of March to sign agreements on uranium, energy, minerals and artificial intelligence. He is trying to expand Canada’s connections outside of its main trading partner, the United States due to the eroding ties.

According to Patnaik, formal talks for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with India might begin in March as well. The nations decided to resume their delayed trade negotiations in November. During his visit, Carney is set to sign multiple agreements on nuclear energy, oil and gas, environment, artificial intelligence and quantum computing alongside education and culture.

“A 10-year (Canadian) $2.8 billion uranium supply deal is likely to be included,” the Indian diplomat highlighted and mentioned that a pact on critical minerals and crude oil alongside LNG transactions could transpire in the coming days. The primary accomplishment of this visit could be a 10-year deal on uranium supplies to India which might even feature a deal on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).

Patnaik remarked that Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal would probably travel to Canada in the near future. He added that National Security Advisor Ajit Doval is also scheduled to go to Ottawa next month as part of routine meetings between the two nations to share intelligence and talk about security measures.

“There ‍are plans for the prime minister to visit at some point this year and it will depend on the progress we make,” Hodgson also confirmed. “We know that India is a major nuclear country and it has major plans ‌to grow ‌its civilian use of nuclear energy. So that would be one of the topics I expect that we will discuss with my counterpart. We need to focus on economies that are large and growing. India squarely falls into that category. It is a growing user of critical minerals that Canada can supply,” he stated before his India trip.

Carney replies to Trump

The nosedive in the relationship between Canada and the United States was showcased during Carney’s speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos where he warned middle powers like his country not to expect “compliance” to protect them from major power aggression, asserting that the rules-based international system headed by Washington for decades was experiencing a “rupture.”

He reiterated, “The world has changed. Washington has changed. There’s almost nothing normal in the United States now,” while addressing Canada’s House of Commons and highlighted the need to formulate economic ties with other nations.

Carney even declared, “Canada doesn’t live because of the United States. Canada thrives because we are Canadian,” in a national address. The counter took place after Trump claimed, “Canada lives because of the United States” at the World Economic Forum.

Conclusion

A recent “fruitful conversation” between External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand amid the Republic Day programs restored the diplomatic momentum between India and Canada. They talked about sustaining regular high-level exchanges, forming economic alliances and boosting engagement in artificial intelligence.

Canada faces the risk of punitive measures as trade tensions with the Trump administration continue to escalate. Therefore, Anand emphasised the value of the diversification efforts and asserted that Washington’s threats “won’t be derailed.” She expressed that Canada’s long-term goal is to grow its exports outside of the United States in ten years and conveyed, “That is why we went to China, that’s why we will be going to India and that is why we won’t put all our eggs in one basket.”

Trump has threatened to impose 100% tariffs on Canadian goods if the country becomes a transit point for Chinese exports into the United States. Carney responded that his nation honours its pledge to abstain from pursuing free trade deals with non-market economies under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement.

The relationship with India likewise deteriorated after it rejected his claims of mediating a ceasefire between New Delhi and Islamabad. Afterwards, 50% tariffs were implemented on the nation including 25% for purchasing Russian oil and gas, blaming the Modi government for fuelling the Ukraine war.

The two countries affected by Trump’s erratic policies and obnoxious claims are currently working to mend their fractured ties which were at the lowest due to Trudeau’s unfounded allegations against the Modi government and his blatant support for Khalistani terrorists and anti-India elements in his nation.

Canada seems to have regained some clarity, at least for the moment and acknowledged the importance of fostering a relationship with India after the unexpected series of events with the US.

SC puts a leash on unchecked Waqf Tribunal powers, limits jurisdiction to registered properties

Shriti Sagar
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SC puts a leash on unchecked Waqf Tribunal powers, limits jurisdiction to registered properties

The Supreme Court on Wednesday, 28th January, made it clear that Waqf Tribunals can deal only with disputes related to properties that are officially recognised under the Waqf Act. This means the Tribunal has jurisdiction only over properties that are either listed in the official “list of auqaf” or registered under the Act. Any dispute involving an unregistered or unnotified property does not fall within the Tribunal’s authority.

The bench consisting of Justice Sanjay Kumar and Justice K Vinod Chandran delivered this verdict while setting aside the Telangana High Court order that had upheld the injunction granted by the Waqf Tribunal in respect of a property that was not registered under the Waqf Act.

Tribunal cannot decide status of unregistered property

Contrary to the finding of the High Court, the Supreme Court said that a plain reading of the case itself showed that the disputed property was neither included in the list of auqaf published under Chapter II of the Waqf Act nor registered under Chapter V. Since this basic requirement was not met, the Tribunal had no power to decide whether the property was a waqf property.

The court observed that Sections 6(1) and 7(1) of the Waqf Act require that a property must be listed in the official auqaf list before the Tribunal can be approached. Without this, the Tribunal simply cannot assume jurisdiction.

Resolving conflicting Supreme Court judgments

Justice K Vinod Chandran, who wrote the judgment, also clarified a long-standing confusion that had arisen due to conflicting Supreme Court decisions on the extent of the powers of Waqf Tribunals.

One line of earlier decisions, such as Anis Fatma Begum vs State of Uttar Pradesh (2010), which was subsequently followed by Rashid Wali Beg vs Farid Pindari (2022), had taken a wider view. These decisions held that Section 83(1) of the Waqf Act conferred broad powers on Waqf Tribunals to decide any dispute about a waqf or a waqf property, irrespective of whether the property had been formally registered or not.

However, another line of judgments, especially Ramesh Gobindram vs Sugra Humayun Mirza Wakf (2010), had clearly held that the Tribunal’s powers are limited and apply only to matters specifically mentioned under the Act. According to this view, Section 83 only allows the creation of Tribunals and does not give them unlimited authority.

The Supreme Court said it was restoring the principle laid down in Ramesh Gobindram, making it the correct legal position.

Why registration matters under the Waqf Act

The bench explained that some earlier judgments had quoted only part of Section 83(1) while ignoring the crucial words “under this Act.” The court stressed that a property can be treated as waqf property under the law only if it has legal recognition, either by inclusion in the list prepared after a statutory survey or by formal registration.

Only such properties fall under the jurisdiction of the Waqf Tribunal, and only in those cases does the civil court’s jurisdiction stand barred under Section 85 of the Act.

“There is hence no absolute and all-pervasive ouster of jurisdiction of the Civil Court even under Section 85 of the Act of 1995,” the Court said.

Background of the case

The case began when a suit was filed before a Waqf Tribunal seeking a permanent injunction. The plaintiff claimed that a room in a residential complex had become a mosque due to long religious use since 2008 and should therefore be treated as waqf property.

It was not disputed that the property was neither listed in the official auqaf list nor registered under the Waqf Act. Despite this, the Tribunal entertained the case and allowed relief, which was subsequently confirmed by the Telangana High Court.

Challenging these decisions, the appellant submitted to the Supreme Court that the Tribunal lacked jurisdiction to even consider the nature of the property. The Supreme Court agreed with this and held that the suit itself was not maintainable.

Consequently, the Supreme Court allowed the appeal, vacated the decisions of both the Waqf Tribunal and the High Court, and rejected the plaint under Order VII Rule 11 of the Civil Procedure Code on the grounds of lack of jurisdiction.

waqf judgementDownload

Madhya Pradesh: Luring Hindus with money and miracles, Raisen police arrest husband-wife duo for illegal conversions; read what the FIR says

Anurag
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Madhya Pradesh: Luring Hindus with money and miracles, Raisen police arrest husband-wife duo for illegal conversions; read what the FIR says

On the intervening night of 26th and 27th January, Raisen police in Madhya Pradesh raided a house and detained a husband-wife duo for coercing Hindus to convert to Christianity. Police were called by activists of the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) after they received a tip-off about a late-night prayer meeting happening at a house in Mandideep, which falls under the Satlapur Industrial Area police station.

According to the complainant in the matter, Hindus were being coerced to convert using inducement, pressure and monetary benefits. OpIndia accessed the FIR registered in the case. A video by Hindu activist Prince Pathak exposing the conversion racket has since gone viral on social media.

Background of the case

The incident took place in Ward No 15, Mandideep, which comes under the Satlapur Industrial Area. A Christian prayer meeting was being held at the residence of Jam Singh Kanas at around 10 pm on 26th January. Activists of the Vishva Hindu Parishad reached the spot after receiving information about the gathering and staged a protest at the site. They said that Hindus were being targeted for religious conversion through inducements.

According to VHP activists, Hindus attending the meeting were promised money and so-called miraculous cures. A young man present at the spot said that he was offered Rs 1 lakh to convert and was assured that his illness would be cured. The accused were promising that converting to Christianity would solve issues including broken bones and complications in childbirth.

Police intervention and seizure of religious material

After receiving the complaint, Satlapur police reached the location and brought the situation under control. Those present at the prayer meeting were questioned. The organiser, Jam Singh Kanas, was taken to the police station for questioning. Additional police force was deployed considering the tense atmosphere.

Speaking to the media, VHP activists said that religious books were recovered from the spot, which were seized by the police. Speaking to the media, VHP’s Bhojpur district minister Surendra Keer confirmed the seizure of the material. OpIndia spoke to Keer for more details in the matter.

Speaking to OpIndia, Keer said that they had been receiving information about the conversion events being organised by the couple. Last year, the couple’s own son stood firmly against the conversions, after which the events were halted for some time. However, they restarted the conversions recently.

When VHP activists reached the spot, they found several Hindus attending the meeting. While some had come for the first time, others were added to groups to coerce them to convert to Christianity. One of the Hindu youths present at the spot informed Keer that he was offered Rs 1 lakh if he converted to Christianity.

Keer confirmed that all three accused mentioned in the FIR were arrested by the police and have been sent to judicial custody.

Video by Hindu activist goes viral

Hindu activists from other organisations were also present, raising objections over the conversion racket. One of the Hindu activists, Prince Pathak, shared a video on social media exposing the racket, which has gone viral.

What the FIR says

The FIR was registered at Satlapur police station on the complaint of Anil Solanki, a resident of Mandideep, under Sections 3 and 5 of the Madhya Pradesh Religious Freedom Act, 2021, against the accused Jam Singh Kanas, his wife Sundar Bai Kanas, and one unidentified person.

Source: Madhya Pradesh Police
Source: Madhya Pradesh Police

According to the complainant, on the night of 26th January, his uncle Jam Singh Kanas took him to his house in Satlapur. Jam Singh’s wife Sundar Bai Kanas and another unidentified person were present. The three pressured him to convert to Christianity and promised him Rs 1 lakh in return. They promised to pay Rs 25,000 as the first instalment, with the remaining amount to be paid later.

The complainant further stated that he was asked to participate in prayers and read the Bible and was pressured to change his religion against his will. Feeling uncomfortable, he left the house and later informed his friends, including Prince Pathak, Brajesh Prajapati, Vivek Vishwakarma, Shubham Kevat, Kamlesh Rai and Rohit Chouksey, after which he approached the police station to lodge a complaint.

Further investigation in the matter is underway.

The illusion of 118% rise in caste discrimination complaints: How UGC data is being used to distort the caste discrimination debate

Dhruv Mishra
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The illusion of 118% rise in caste discrimination complaints: How UGC data is being used to distort the caste discrimination debate

Over the past few days, headlines pushed by The Wire and amplified by left-leaning social media influencers have repeatedly claimed a 118.4% rise in caste-based discrimination complaints in higher education. At first glance, an 118.4% rise in caste-based discrimination complaints sounds concerning, and that is precisely the point. Percentages create shock when stripped out of context. even when the underlying numbers remain small. Statistics presented without institutional scale distort reality and short-circuit reasoned debate. While discrimination must be addressed, reliance on headline percentages without proportional context has produced a misleading narrative now being used to justify sweeping regulatory changes under the UGC’s 2026 framework.

What the data really shows

Between 2019–20 and 2023–24, reports of caste-based discrimination rose from 173 to 378. This increase is estimated as 118.4%. The University Grants Commission recorded 1,160 complaints in these five years. However, what is almost never highlighted is where these complaints came from and how they are distributed.

According to UGC data submitted to Parliament and the Supreme Court, these complaints were reported across 704 universities and 1,553 colleges, totalling over 2,200 higher education institutions nationwide and over 90% of these complaints were marked as ‘resolved’.

The statistics appear significantly different when viewed through this perspective: 378 complaints from thousands of institutions, even in the year with the greatest reporting, is fewer than one complaint per institution annually.

It is crucial to have this institutional denominator. Indian higher education serves crores of students and employs lakhs of faculty and staff. It spans a vast and diverse academic ecosystem. Yet, the statistical framing used in public discourse rarely reflects this scale. Instead, the focus remains fixed on the percentage increase, detached from proportional reality.

Furthermore, the year-wise data shows a gradual rise, but an explosion. The complaints increased marginally from 173 (2019-20) to 182 (2020-2021), 186 (2021-22), and 241 (2022-23), before rising sharply in 2023-24. This pattern suggests not a sudden collapse of campus ethics but a slow build-up followed by increased reporting.

At the same time, Pending cases increased from just 18 in 2019–20 to 108 in 2023–24. This rise is rarely highlighted in public discourse. While overall resolution rates are cited to project institutional efficiency, the growing backlog suggests that the system is now facing pressure from increased inflow, raising questions about capacity, timelines, and the quality of resolution rather than its mere completion.

Importantly, senior UGC officials themselves have attributed the growth mainly to increased student knowledge of the existence and operation of SC/ST cells. To put it another way, the data shows enhanced reporting and visibility rather than necessarily deteriorating behaviour.

None of this is to deny that discrimination exists or that complaints should be taken seriously. But when absolute numbers remain small relative to the system’s size, presenting them exclusively as percentage increases creates a distorted sense of crisis. As there is a famous quote that “The statistics you don’t see are often more important than the ones you do.” The missing context here is not incidental, but it fundamentally alters how the data should be interpreted.

When percentages are highlighted without institutional scale, per-campus averages, or outcome breakdowns, statistics stop informing policy objectively. They begin to function as narrative tools, shaping public perception and justifying regulatory overreach rather than enabling proportionate, evidence-based reform.

Why the increase is not necessarily alarming

Crucially, even UGC officials have admitted that greater awareness and better visibility of SC/ST Cells and Equal Opportunity Cells on campuses are major factors in the increase in complaints received. Institutions have been regularly instructed over the past few years to formalise reporting procedures, conduct sensitisation campaigns, and publicise grievance channels. Higher reporting in these situations does not always translate into a corresponding rise in discriminatory behaviour. More often than not, it indicates increased trust in institutional processes and a readiness to voice complaints that could have gone unreported in the past. Therefore, rather than indicating worsening campus conduct, increased reporting can just as likely indicate better access to remedy. It is dangerous to draw policy conclusions unsupported by the facts if improved reporting is confused with growing prejudice. 

How numbers are weaponised

Despite this nuance, the public discourse has been dominated by a single figure: 118.4%. The Left ecosystem consistently foregrounds this percentage jump while carefully avoiding critical context, such as the number of institutions involved, the size of the student population, and the per-campus average. An exaggerated sense of crisis is produced by this selective concentration. Even minor numerical increases can result in significant percentage spikes when the base number is small. When statistics lack scale and balance, they become persuasive rather than educational tools. In this manner, numbers are not used to inform policy but to manufacture urgency and justify sweeping regulatory expansion already ideologically favoured. 

Our position: Against UGC 2026, not against justice

It is incorrect to portray opposition to the UGC’s 2026 regulations as a denial of discrimination. Discrimination exists and must be addressed firmly. However, the new framework redefines caste-based discrimination in a way that excludes the General Category by design, while simultaneously removing safeguards against misuse. By narrowing protection to select groups and weakening procedural balance, the regulations risk institutionalising administrative fear rather than justice. Equity cannot be achieved by replacing one form of exclusion with another or by presuming guilt in the name of compliance.

Conclusion

Statistics are meant to illuminate policy choices, not intimidate public debate. The 118% figure, when presented without institutional scale or proportional context, misleads rather than informs. Used this way, numbers stop guiding reform and begin justifying power.

India needs anti-discrimination mechanisms that are firm yet fair, protective yet balanced, and evidence-based rather than ideologically driven. Policies shaped by inflated narratives may appear decisive, but without proportionality and due process, they risk undermining the very justice they claim to uphold.

UGC Equity Regulations: How the draft was modified to incorporate Indira Jaising’s demands and left glaring questions on possible misuse to target general caste students

Aditi
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UGC Equity Regulations: How the draft was modified to incorporate Indira Jaising’s demands and left glaring questions on possible misuse to target general caste students

The recently notified Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions Regulations, 2026, have received a massive pushback across the country, with people hitting the streets against the regulations. After days of protests, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan finally addressed the controversy yesterday (27th January) and offered an assurance that the regulations would not be misused. However, the assurance did little to allay the legitimate fears of people opposing the regulations for pushing the stereotype that the general castes cannot be the victims of caste-based discrimination and excluding general category students from the grievance redressal mechanism.

The UGC Equity Regulations 2026 are supposedly an ‘improvement’ over the Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions Regulations, 2025. But, in reality, the 2026 regulations turned out to be anything but an ‘improvement’. According to Swarajya, unlike the 2026 regulations, the 2025 draft regulations reflected a balanced approach and pragmatic effort in addressing discrimination in educational institutions.

The origins of the UGC regulations on equity

The 2025 draft regulations emerged out of a PIL filed in 2019 by mothers of students of Rohith Vemula and Payal Tadvi, who died in 2016 and 2019, respectively. Their families alleged that the students committed suicide after being subjected to caste-based discrimination. The petitioner, represented by Senior Advocate Indira Jaising, along with advocates Prasanna S. and Disha Wadekar, sought the implementation of anti-discrimination measures in educational institutions.

The PIL did not reportedly demand an entirely new set of regulations, but a strict enforcement of the existing University Grants Commission (Promotion of Equity in Higher Educational Institutions) Regulations, 2012. The 2012 rules required universities to establish Equal Opportunity Cells to handle complaints of discrimination, particularly against Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) students.

In the PIL, the petitioner alleged caste bias in admissions, evaluations, hostel allotments, and campus life, along with what they termed as the near-total failure to implement the 2012 framework. The petitioner claimed that there was no meaningful monitoring, sparse Equal Opportunity Cells, and zero integration with accreditation bodies like NAAC. The matter kept lying dormant until January 2025, when Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan reprimanded the University Grants Commission (UGC) for non-compliance. The judges directed the UGC to produce data on cells, complaints, and actions. In its response to the Apex Court, the UGC said that it was in the process of drafting updated regulations.

The 2025 regulations adopted a measured approach to address caste-based discrimination in educational institutions

The UGC released the Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2025, in February last year for public consultation. The 2025 draft regulations struck a balance between enhancing protections and preserving institutional autonomy, fairness, and due process for all parties involved. While retaining focus on caste-based discrimination against SC/ST students, as demanded by the PIL, the draft rules defined discrimination as “unfair, differential, or biased treatment” based on caste or tribe identity and allowed flexibility for institutions to interpret and apply the rule contextually.

The equity committee under the 2025 draft regulations was to be chaired by the head of the institution to ensure institutional accountability. At least one member on the committee was to be from the SC or ST community. The draft regulations encouraged the broad stakeholder inclusion of faculty, students, and administrative staff to promote collective responsibility. Embodying the principles of natural justice, the draft rules stressed procedural fairness and prevented hasty punishments, considering that the careers and reputations of parties would be at stake. The draft regulations, while accommodating the PIL’s demands, adopted a measured approach and provided a preventive framework and not a punitive one.

The 2026 regulations are modelled on the recommendations of Indira Jaising

However, the petitioners were not happy with the 2025 draft regulations, and Senior Advocate Indira Jaising proposed ten core changes in the draft. The proposed reforms included grievance committees with substantial marginalised representation and grant withdrawal for non-compliance. The Supreme Court fixed an 8-week deadline for the finalisation of the regulations. Finally, the Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions Regulations, 2026, were notified on January 13, 2026.

The final regulations were devoid of the balanced approach reflected in the 2025 regulations, and incorporated many of Jaising’s recommendations, such as bans on discrimination with debarment powers (Section 11), explicit anti-segregation clauses (Section 7(d)), diverse Equity Committee representation including OBCs/PwDs/women (Section 5(7)), confidentiality and anti-retaliation safeguards, institutional head duties (Section 4(3)), mandatory counseling (Section 7(f)), and proactive Equity Squads and Ambassadors.

The 2026 regulations ruled out the general castes as victims of caste-based violence by restricting the category of victims to SCs, STs, and OBCs. There is no provision for general category students to raise a complaint when subjected to caste-based discrimination. The 2026 regulations not only assume that caste-based discrimination is only directed towards people from the SC, ST, and OBC communities, but, in a way, promote reverse caste-based discrimination by excluding general castes, which form a large section of the academic community, from protection.

The new framework is blatantly biased against the general category students, who will have no institutional recourse if the rules are misused against them. This is the reason that the 2026 regulations are facing the outrage of people, mostly students, whose lives would be directly affected.

‘India has 100% more trade deals than Trump’: US media praises India-EU FTA while discussing how tariffs are hitting American citizens

Rukma Rathore
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‘India has 100% more trade deals than Trump’: US media praises India-EU FTA while discussing how tariffs are hitting American citizens

The “Mother of all deals” also referred to as the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between India and the European Union has unsurprisingly triggered shots from outside the borders. The United States, which slapped punitive tariffs on allies and adversaries alike, has yet to finalise its trade deal with India, despite months of talks. However, the US media was observing the developments carefully and has now unleashed backlash at US President Donald Trump.

New Delhi’s impressive success has resonated in America and beyond as the pivotal deal received extensive coverage coupled with strong criticism of Trump’s policies which have already been shown to hurt the US citizens rather than other nations.

United States Trade Representative Jamieson Greer mentioned that India stands to gain the most from the FTA while talking to Fox Business. He highlighted much larger market access, labour advantages and potential mobility opportunities for Indian workers.

He stated, “Strategically, it’s important to understand that because President Trump has prioritised domestic production and essentially started charging a fee for other countries to access our market, they are looking for other outlets for their overproduction. The EU is turning to India to try to find a place. The EU is so trade-dependent that they need others if they can’t keep sending all their stuff to the United States.”

Greer then emphasised, “I have looked at some of the details of the deal so far. I think India comes out on top on this, frankly. They get more market access and immigration rights to Europe. India is going to have a heyday with this and low-cost labour.”

Bloomberg report “EU and India Clinch ‘Mother of All Deals’ in Rebuff to Trump” shed light on how the two sides joined hands in an effort to enhance economic ties that have picked up pace as a result of the harsh US tariffs.

Bloomberg headline on India-EU deal

“The conclusion of negotiations reflects the rapidly shifting global alignment under US President Donald Trump. The EU, despite long clashing with Indian officials on trade policy, is focused on paring back its economic reliance on the US and China. India is trying to shake its protectionist reputation and offset a 50% Trump tariff while at the same time balancing ties with Russia,” the piece stressed.

It informed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is looking for new markets and the current accord was his fourth one since May after similar pacts with the United Kingdom, Oman and New Zealand. According to the article he further intends to obtain strategic resources and broaden India’s global reach by forming alliances with the Gulf Cooperation Council, Chile, Peru and the Mercosur bloc.

It also recounted when Trump labelled India as the “Tariff King” only to initiate a bloodbath in global markets due to his unreliable actions. The report also elaborated on the specifics of the crucial deal and the positive reactions it provoked from both industry groups and business executives.

US tariffs brought EU-India together for the ‘blockbuster trade deal’, says WaPo

Likewise, The Washington Post noted that the FTA is “driven by the need for new partnerships to shield their markets from an erratic America.” The media house in its report “Facing US turmoil, Europe and India announce blockbuster trade deal” conveyed that the agreement “will deepen ties” between the two partners.”

It identified India as one of the world’s fastest-growing major economies and the 27-nation bloc as a commercial behemoth that has historically been Washington’s closest partner. This hints at the debacle by the US in its endeavour to levy tariffs on them. It read, “As Trump upends US alliances and global trade, Europe and India each found themselves staring down the barrel of the president’s tariff threats over the past year.”

The article stated that the Trump administration’s blatant contempt for the European Union and its impending departure from maintaining European security have motivated European leaders to press for the United States to “de-risk.” It is noteworthy that the strategy was previously reserved for relations with China.

“Indian and US relations are at their lowest point in decades, strained by New Delhi’s decision to publicly reject Trump’s claim that he brokered a ceasefire between India and Pakistan in May,” the piece expressed, delving into the specifics of the pact. India has consistently refuted Trump’s claims of mediation between New Delhi and Islamabad, much to his displeasure.

It added, “India was among the first countries to begin negotiating a trade deal with the Trump administration after the president’s slew of tariffs on dozens of nations last year, but the two sides have not been able to clinch an agreement.” The report highlighted that Washington placed some of the highest tariff rates on India which pushed the latter to ease tensions with China and reaffirmed its commitment of strategic autonomy.

It stated that “the deal comes as India’s economy continues to grow” and “it represents a way to widen markets and attract investment in the hopes of reenergising the domestic economy.” The piece stressed that Trump signed an agreement with the EU but his declarations about Greenland and his threats to impose new tariffs on eight European countries that rejected his quest for US control of the Arctic country, which was later reversed, have not alleviated the concerns about the dependency risk.

India stood firm against US tariffs which encouraged nations to search for different markets

The Wall Street Journal in its report “EU and India Reach Free-Trade Deal as World Responds to Trump Tariffs,” conveyed that the FTA “is the latest example of US trading partners seeking to curb their reliance on America by expanding ties with other markets” while discussing how it will be beneficial for the involved parties.

It pointed out that the EU struck a trade and investment agreement with Indonesia last year and earlier this month it entered into a free-trade agreement with the four South American nations that created the Mercosur customs union. The article talked about the India and United Kingdom trade accord and mentioned that the latter has struck a trade-and-security partnership with the European Union and also amended an existing agreement with South Korea over the past year.

Earlier this month, Canada and China similarly reached a compromise to reduce tariffs on Canadian canola oil and electric vehicles manufactured in China. It is a testament to the reality of a multipolar world where America can no longer act as the global bully that compels other nations to conform. The countries are in a position to look beyond and outside, finding their own paths to continue growing and trading despite pressure from Washington.

The piece even underscored how a strong New Delhi has managed to sustain its position despite the regular threats and tariff hikes from the US. It stated, “India, which is forecast to become the world’s fourth-largest economy this year, has held firm against US demands to open up its markets to dairy products and ethanol. The Indian economy is less dependent on exports compared with countries such as Japan and South Korea, which has allowed New Delhi to hold the line in trade negotiations with Washington.”

Trump’s chaotic trade policy

CNN also termed the FTA as “the largest such deal ever clinched by either side, as they contend with an erratic trade policy from key trading partner the United States.” Its report “India and Europe, both stung by Trump, turn to each other in a ‘mother of all deals’ on trade” noted the frequent threats to invade Greenland and implementation of 50% tariffs on New Delhi, including 25% for taking Russian oil and natural gas.

“Just recently, US President Donald Trump threatened to impose higher tariffs on the European nations opposing his push to annexe Greenland, which belongs to Denmark, though he later backed down from the threats. For the EU as a whole, the United States is its biggest export market. And in August, Trump announced an additional 25% tariff on India as punishment for importing Russian oil and natural gas, building on a previously announced 25% tariff rate,” the article pointed out.

“India also signed trade deals with various countries in 2025, a year marked by Trump’s return to the White House and his chaotic trade policy,” it added and covered the particulars of the fresh deal.

Perfect answer to global hegemons: Canada

The EU-India agreement has attracted substantial favourable reception from America which slammed Trump for his excessive tariff policy. Meanwhile, Canada which Trump has mockingly labelled the “51st US state” took the opportunity to indirectly attack him without taking any names. Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Timothy Hodgson called FTA a “perfect” response to global hegemons that employ economic integration and tariffs as coercive measures.

“What is happening in the world today is not a gradual economic transition. It is a rupture. The hegemons of the world have decided that the rules-based order is no longer how the world will work. They have decided that’s not the way the world’s going to work anymore,” he charged at India Energy Week 2026. He maintained that India’s goal to finalise the agreement delivered a clear message in support of free trade and reliable partners.

“What you just did with the EU signing, the mother of all deals, was a perfect example of how to say no (to hegemons). We’re not going to live in a world where the strongest put tariffs on everyone else. We’re going to live in a world where we believe in free trade, where we believe in trusted relationships,” Hodgson asserted.

He declared that Ottawa will “never use our energy for torture” and his country is prepared to boost its energy exports to India in bid to diversify its clientele and reduce reliance on supplies to the US.

Modi surpassed Trump in trade deals, Americans bear the brunt of tariffs

In a CNBC show hosted by Journalist Morgan Brennan, economic policy expert Henrietta Treyz pointed out that India has outpaced the US in inking trade agreements. Additionally, the consequences of the tariffs, denouncing allies and the abject inability to conclude trade deals have created difficulties for both Trump and his party.

She expressed, “India has secured 100% more trade deals than Trump this year. He has merely finalised 2 deals in 10 months with Malaysia and Cambodia, despite the commitment to achieve 90 such agreements in 90 days. The one with South Korea is also not moving forward owing to the myriad issues,” in a CNBC interview.

Treyz outlined, “96% trade with the nation was covered by FTA with no tariffs but Trump’s repeated condemnation of partners like the EU, Japan and South Korea is not bearing fruit. Moreover, 50% of Americans want the tariffs to be revoked by the Supreme Court. The administration is struggling with its affordability message and the failure of these trade deals. This has resulted in a decline in numbers for not only Trump but also the Republican Conference.”

Conclusion

European Council President Antonio Luis Santos da Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen arrived in India as the principal guests for Republic Day and held the 16th EU-India Summit. The vital Free Trade Agreement (FTA) was announced on 27th January following nearly two decades of negotiations, demonstrating that world economies can pursue their own trajectories regardless of the United States. The evident truth is recognised by Americans as well resulting in the pushback against Trump’s detrimental policies.

Washington Post’s India chief begs Jeff Bezos as layoffs loom, exposing how ‘bashing India’ is the price of job security at The Post

Jinit Jain
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Washington Post’s India chief begs Jeff Bezos as layoffs loom, exposing how ‘bashing India’ is the price of job security at The Post

There is something uniquely revealing about senior journalists publicly pleading with their owner to spare their jobs. It strips away the carefully cultivated myth of editorial aloofness and exposes the power hierarchy that actually governs legacy media.

Pranshu Verma, the New Delhi Bureau Chief of The Washington Post, did precisely that, taking to X to appeal directly to Jeff Bezos as reports of massive retrenchment at the newspaper rattled its foreign desks.

Verma’s tweet was not merely a request for professional continuity; it was a résumé, a loyalty affidavit, and an ideological confession rolled into one. Addressing Bezos by name, Verma argued that The Post is among the very few outlets in India capable of “accountability reporting without fear of government censure.”

In one stroke, he positioned himself as a brave dissenter in an allegedly authoritarian media ecosystem, and the paper as a lone moral crusader standing against a repressive Indian state. This has long been a stance taken by hostile foreign publications, which often drum up such imaginary grandstanding to continue soliciting support from their Western patrons.

What followed was even more telling. Verma proudly listed the bureau’s greatest hits: stories on Indian billionaires being “treated far better than others,” insinuations of crony capitalism under the Modi government; pieces on Indian conglomerates allegedly “fueling Russia’s war in Ukraine”; and the framing of India’s efforts to curb illegal immigration as a “draconian deportation campaign of Muslims to Bangladesh.” Each example served a purpose, not to inform Bezos about journalistic merit, but to signal ideological alignment with the worldview that has increasingly defined The Washington Post’s foreign reporting.

In other words, Verma made it abundantly clear what it takes to work and survive at The Post. To be an India correspondent there is not merely to report on India, but to indict it. To view the Indian state not as a sovereign democracy grappling with complex challenges, but as a suspect entity whose actions must be cast through the prism of oppression, majoritarianism, and moral delinquency.

Illegal Rohingya immigration, involving forged documents, border infiltration, and in several cases criminal charges, is not treated as a national security issue, but repackaged as a communal persecution campaign. Billionaires are not business actors in a liberalising economy, but shorthand for regime corruption. Diplomatic friction is not geopolitics, but a “breakdown” caused by India’s presumed moral failings.

This is why Verma’s plea reads less like a defence of journalism and more like a performance for power. The subtext was unmistakable: Look at the damage we do. Look at the narratives we push. Surely this is worth saving.

That such a performance was necessary at all speaks volumes about the crisis engulfing The Washington Post. According to reports by former Post media reporter Paul Farhi, the newspaper is preparing for deep staffing cuts that could eliminate up to 300 jobs, with foreign and sports desks bearing the brunt. Editors have reportedly warned that as much as half the newsroom could face cuts. This follows the elimination of around 240 jobs in 2023, despite Bezos’s initial post-acquisition expansion and investment.

The reasons are neither mysterious nor ideological. Advertising revenues have collapsed, subscriptions have stagnated, and the moral grandstanding that once passed for global journalism no longer pays the bills. Readers are tuning out, not because accountability reporting is unwelcome, but because relentless narrative activism masquerading as reportage has eroded trust.

Verma’s public supplication to Bezos fits into a broader and rather undignified trend: bureau chiefs and senior editors appealing to the benevolence of a billionaire owner while simultaneously claiming independence from power. It is a contradiction that cannot be wished away with hashtags like #SaveThePost.

In the end, the irony is sharp. A journalist who accuses the Indian government of suppressing press freedom finds his own professional fate resting entirely on the discretion of a single American tycoon. It is deliciously ironic that Verma was flaunting his Bureau’s prejudiced reporting on India’s business conglomerates while supplicating an American businessman to keep his job intact.

The problem, however, is not Bezos’s reluctance to keep funding loss-making desks. It is the inability of outlets like The Washington Post to reckon with the fact that contempt-driven, ideologically rigid reporting is no longer a sustainable business model. It is precisely this ideological rigidity that has generated mounting headwinds for The Washington Post globally, pushing the organisation into a position where it is now forced to contemplate large-scale layoffs to stay afloat.

Verma’s tweet was meant to save his job. Instead, it inadvertently laid bare the mindset that has helped push one of America’s most storied newspapers to the brink. And this is why most Indian outlets trying to mimic The Post’s ideological moorings, such as Newslaundry, The Wire, etc., find themselves perpetually soliciting donations and subscriptions for the same reason. Whether it is an American legacy paper or its Indian ideological imitators, audiences have begun to withdraw support from media organisations that dress up advocacy and propaganda as “independent” and “neutral” journalism.

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