New UGC equity regulations spark student protests, political fallout in U.P.

The University Grants Commission (UGC)’s new regulations on the promotion of equity in higher education campuses triggered protests in Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday (January 27, 2026), with a section of students demonstrating at Lucknow University against the rules, alleging they would affect their studies and future.

The protesting students staged a sit-in at the university’s main gate and raised slogans against the UGC, claiming the University Grants Commission (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2026  could lead to caste conflict and disrupt social harmony on campuses. “We demand that the UGC reconsider the framework and initiate a wider, inclusive dialogue before enforcing the new rules. These rules disturb the social balance,” said Anmol Singh, an LLB student, while speaking to local media. 

Dissent within BJP

The issue has sparked dissent within the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), with a few local leaders expressing anger over the regulations and resigning from party posts. Mrigendra Upadhyay, a BJP leader from Balrampur, said such rules would adversely impact upper caste students and portray them as culprits in case of complaints filed under the new framework.

“We need strong upper caste leaders to fight for our rights and raise our voice against discrimination in any form,” he said. A few BJP leaders holding posts in district organisational units of Lucknow also resigned in protest. Earlier, Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council member and BJP leader Devendra Pratap Singh also questioned the regulations and called for a broader discussion. 

PCS officer suspended

In a related development, the State Government on January 26 suspended Bareilly City Magistrate and Provincial Civil Service (PCS) officer Alankar Agnihotri after he submitted his resignation from service, questioning government policies, including the UGC guidelines. 

According to an order issued by the State Government on January 26, Mr. Agnihotri, a 2019-batch UPPSC officer, was found prima facie guilty of indiscipline based on a report submitted by the Bareilly District Magistrate. “Acting under Rule 4 and Rule 7 of the Uttar Pradesh Government Servants (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1999, the government put the 2019-batch officer under immediate suspension and appointed the commissioner, Bareilly division, as the inquiry officer to conduct a detailed probe,” the order said. 

Mr. Agnihotri had submitted his resignation on January 26, citing deep disagreement with government policies, including the new UGC regulations, which he described as a ‘black law’. Speaking with reporters on Monday, he alleged the UGC provisions were discriminatory and could lead to social unrest on campuses. He also alleged that an “anti-Brahmin campaign” was underway in Uttar Pradesh and that members of the community were being selectively targeted. The officer sent his resignation by email to the Uttar Pradesh Governor and Bareilly District Magistrate Avinash Singh. He also pointed to a recent religious controversy in Prayagraj, questioning the role of administrative authorities.

A resident of Kanpur Nagar, Mr. Agnihotri has earlier served as sub-divisional magistrate in districts including Unnao, Balrampur and Lucknow, and was known in administrative circles for his forthright views and strict work style.

Political reactions

Reacting to the episode, senior BJP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Dinesh Sharma said such officers have often appeared politically motivated. “I neither know him nor have I heard about him. There are many people who smell politics, and then such people start finding excuses to do politics,” said Mr. Sharma, a former Deputy Chief Minister. 

Uttar Pradesh Congress president Ajay Rai accused the BJP of attempting to divide society through the new UGC rules. “The BJP earlier resorted to Hindu-Muslim polarisation to hide their failure, and now trying to divide people through the UGC framework. I believe they (the BJP-led government) are about to go now; they are in their final stages… For the Congress, everyone is united… The system that existed during our tenure should be implemented more firmly.”