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JAMMU: Jammu and Kashmir BJP spokesperson and former Vice Chairman Balbir Ram Rattan has welcomed the newly notified University Grants Commission (UGC) Regulations, 2026, describing them as a significant step towards creating a discrimination-free academic environment across the country.
He said the regulations, notified this month and brought into force following their publication in the Official Gazette, are mandatory for all higher education institutions, including universities, colleges and deemed institutions throughout India.
Balbir Ram Rattan said the new framework goes beyond routine administrative changes and reflects a moral, social and constitutional commitment to equality. He noted that for decades, students from Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, socially and educationally backward classes, economically weaker sections, minorities and persons with disabilities have been complaining of exclusion and bias in academic spaces, which the new regulations seek to address.
He emphasized that the rules strictly prohibit discrimination on the basis of religion, race, caste, gender, place of birth or disability. Institutions are now required to put in place effective grievance redressal systems, ensure regular monitoring and enforce accountability to make equity and inclusion a practical reality.
Highlighting institutional accountability as a key feature, Balbir Ram Rattan, said equity has been defined as a core governance responsibility of universities and colleges, making it mandatory for institutions to take timely and corrective action against discrimination.
He added that the regulations will help create safer campuses, promote equal opportunities in admissions and academics, and ensure dignified treatment for students, teachers and staff. Such measures, he said, are crucial for building trust in the higher education system and encouraging students from marginalized communities to pursue higher studies without fear.
Balbir Ram Rattan urged Vice Chancellors, Principals and academic administrators to implement the regulations in letter and spirit. He also appealed to civil society groups, student organizations and faculty members to actively monitor implementation, saying sincere enforcement can transform campuses into spaces of equality, dignity and social justice.
