DU students protest UGC equity regulations

The protest, which began near the Arts Faculty, witnessed participation from students across colleges. Protesters raised slogans and held placards demanding the rollback of the regulations, arguing that the framework risks reshaping campus life around rigid social categories.

Students claimed that the regulations, instead of fostering inclusion, may lead to heightened social labelling. “If every academic and administrative process starts viewing students primarily through caste categories, it will fundamentally change how students interact with each other. Group projects, classroom discussions, and even hostel life could become spaces of tension rather than learning,” said Saurabh Singh, a final year undergraduate student.

Several students expressed concern that the regulations could create an atmosphere of mistrust on campuses. “We fear a situation where students are constantly conscious of their social identity, worried about being misunderstood or misrepresented,” said a student from law faculty. “Universities should help us move beyond labels, not reinforce them,” he added.

Protesters also argued that the regulations may affect academic freedom and campus neutrality. “These rules could open the door to excessive administrative scrutiny and complaints without strong safeguards. This can impact students mental health and academic focus,” said Rohit Kumar a student of LC 2.

Students further pointed out that the regulations do not adequately address structural issues such as poor grievance redressal systems and lack of awareness mechanisms. “Discrimination must be tackled seriously, but policy making without clarity can end up harming the very students it claims to protect. Ambiguous rules can be misused, leading to conflict between students rather than solutions,” said Ritu, a student from the Faculty of Arts.

The protesters warned that the regulations could also affect campus unity in the long run. “Universities thrive on shared spaces and collective experiences,” said a protester. “If policies push students into opposing camps, it will weaken student solidarity and harm the academic culture.”

The UGC regulations aim to promote equity and prevent discrimination in higher education institutions. However, students demanded that the commission suspend the regulations and initiate comprehensive consultations with students, teachers, and academic bodies. Protesters said they would continue their agitation if their concerns over academic freedom, social harmony and student well-being were not addressed.