New Delhi: Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Tuesday, January 27, assured that the new University Grants Commission (UGC) guidelines, issued recently, would not be misused.

The new guidelines were issued on January 13 titled the Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions Regulations, 2026 while claiming to address caste-based discrimination on campuses, triggering major online backlash from the general category against the government.

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The minister, giving a clarification on the issue, said he assured everyone that no misuse of the law in the name of discrimination would be allowed. “Ensuring this is the responsibility of the UGC, the Government of India, and state governments. All actions will be carried out within the ambit of the Constitution,” the minister said, adding that the matter is also under the supervision of the Supreme Court, and there will be no discrimination.

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The users on social media argued that the law could lead to discrimination against the general category students, as it directs the institutions to set up special committees, helplines, and monitoring teams to handle complaints, particularly from SC, ST, and OBC students.