CHENNAI: Chief Minister MK Stalin on Thursday said the UGC (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2026, were a delayed but welcome step towards reforming a higher education system affected by deep-rooted discrimination and institutional apathy.
In a statement, the Chief Minister said there had been a visible rise in student suicides in higher education institutions in recent years, particularly among SC and ST students, and instances of harassment targeting students from South India, Kashmir and minority communities. In this backdrop, equity safeguards were not optional but an unavoidable necessity, he said.
Welcoming the stated objective of dismantling caste-based discrimination and extending the framework to include OBC students, Stalin said the backlash against the new regulations reflected a regressive mindset, similar to the opposition witnessed during the implementation of the Mandal Commission recommendations.
He urged the Union government not to succumb to pressure to dilute the regulations or their core intent and expressed apprehension about institutional leadership aligned with particular ideological groups.
"If the Union government is serious about preventing student deaths, ending discrimination and reducing dropout rates among students from backward communities, these regulations must not only be retained but strengthened, revised to address structural gaps, and enforced with real accountability," the Chief Minister said.
He added that meaningful reform in higher education would depend not merely on policy announcements, but on effective and transparent implementation across institutions.