Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin backs new UGC equity rules amid row: 'Delayed but welcome reform'

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has backed the University Grants Commission's (UGC) 2026 anti-discrimination regulations, describing the move as a 'delayed but welcome' step. He called it a crucial step towards addressing deep-rooted discrimination and institutional apathy within India's higher education system.

"The UGC (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2026 is a delayed but welcome step in reforming a higher education system scarred by deep rooted discrimination and institutional apathy," Stalin posted on X.

The DMK chief attacked BJP over rise in suicides among SC and ST students and harassment of students from South India, Kashmir, and minority communities.

The #UGC (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2026 is a delayed but welcome step in reforming a higher education system scarred by deep rooted discrimination and institutional apathy. Since the BJP came to power at the Union level, there has been a…

— M.K.Stalin - தமிழ்நாட்டை தலைகுனிய விடமாட்டேன் (@mkstalin) January 29, 2026

"Since the BJP came to power at the Union level, there has been a visible rise in student suicides within Indian HEIs particularly among SC and ST students. This has been accompanied by repeated attacks and harassment targeting students from South India, Kashmir, and minority communities. In this context, equity safeguards are not a matter of choice but an unavoidable necessity," he added.

Welcoming the regulations' stated objective of dismantling caste discrimination and extending inclusion to Other Backward Classes (OBCs), Stalin said the backlash against the UGC framework mirrors the resistance seen during the implementation of reservations following the Mandal Commission recommendations.

"The stated goals of dismantling caste discrimination and the inclusion of OBCs within this framework, deserve support. As seen during the implementation of reservations based on the Mandal Commission recommendations, the present #UGC_Rollback backlash is driven by the same regressive mindset. The Union Government must not allow such pressure to dilute these regulations or their core objectives," he wrote.

The Tamil Nadu CM asserted that if the Union Government is genuinely committed to preventing student deaths, ending discrimination, and reducing dropout rates among students from backward communities, the regulations must not only be protected but strengthened.