UGC Act 2026: Swami Prasad Maurya Supports Bill Amid Upper-Caste Opposition, Highlights SC/ST/OBC Rights

Former Minister and People’s Party National President Swami Prasad Maurya has come out in support of the controversial UGC Act 2026, which aims to promote equality in higher education institutions across India. The legislation, formally titled “Regulations to Promote Equality in Higher Education Institutions, 2026,” directs universities and colleges to set up Equality Cells to ensure fair opportunities for all faculty, non-teaching staff, and students.

While upper-caste groups have been protesting the Act, Maurya defended it, emphasizing the need to protect SC, ST, and OBC rights. In a social media post, he stated that the original purpose of the UGC was to ensure educational equality and social justice, but today, systematic discrimination is occurring against reserved categories. He highlighted that reserved posts in universities are deliberately left vacant, scholarships and fellowships withheld, and reservations for ad-hoc and guest faculty being undermined.

Maurya further warned that tampering with the roster system violates Articles 14, 15, and 16 of the Constitution, and criticized those who once championed caste equality but now oppose SC/ST/OBC rights under the guise of Hindu unity. He posed a direct question: “Are SC, ST, and OBC not Hindus?”

Regulation Effective Since January 15, 2026

The Equality Cell regulation came into force on January 15, 2026, across all universities and colleges. Since its implementation, protests by upper-caste organizations have erupted in various states, accompanied by intense campaigns on social media. The regulation notably includes SC, ST, and OBC under the definition of caste-based discrimination, enabling them to file complaints through the Equality Cells, while upper-caste groups are excluded from this provision.

The controversy escalated following the resignation of Bareilly City Magistrate Alankar Agnihotri and public protests led by prominent religious leaders, including Peethadheeshwar Yati Narsinghanand Giri in Ghaziabad, further intensifying the debate over caste-based equality in higher education.