Why in news?

The Union government informed the Supreme Court that new UGC regulations will empower it to de-recognise higher education institutions failing to prevent discrimination, particularly based on religion or caste.

What’s in today’s article?

• Caste-Based Discrimination in Indian Universities
• UGC’s New Draft Regulations Empower It to Act Against Discrimination in Universities

Caste-Based Discrimination in Indian Universities

• Caste-based discrimination in Indian universities refers to systemic exclusion, harassment, and bias faced by students from Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBCs).
• This manifests in academic grading, social ostracization, denial of opportunities, and even psychological harassment, often leading to dropouts or severe mental distress.
• Statistics
  • Discrimination in IITs
    • A 2021 study by the Forum Against Oppression of SC/STs reported that 70% of Dalit and Adivasi students in IITs faced caste discrimination.
    • They faced discrimination from faculty members, including unfair grading and exclusion from academic projects.
  • Admissions
    • In 2015–2019, only 1.6% of PhD candidates at IIT-Bombay were from the ST category, 7.5% from the SC category, and 19.2% from the OBC category.
  • Placements
    • A field experiment found that low-caste applicants need to send 20 percent more resumes than high-caste applicants to get the same callback.
  • Suicides
    • As per the ministry of education, between 2014 and 2021, over 122 student suicides in higher education institutions were reported, a significant proportion belonging to marginalized communities.
• Notable Examples
• Rohith Vemula (2016): A Ph.D. scholar from the University of Hyderabad, who died by suicide, alleging caste discrimination and institutional harassment.
• Payal Tadvi (2019): A tribal medical student from Mumbai, who ended her life due to casteist bullying by senior doctors.
• Reports of caste-based seating arrangements in universities and social exclusion from hostels and student groups persist.
• Legal Mechanism to Address Caste Discrimination
  • Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989: Provides legal protection against caste-based violence and discrimination.
  • The University Grants Commission (UGC) Guidelines: Mandates universities to establish anti-discrimination cells to address caste bias.
  • Article 15 & 17 of the Indian Constitution: Prohibits caste-based discrimination and untouchability in all forms.
  • Reservation Policy: Ensures representation of SC/ST/OBC students in admissions, faculty positions, and scholarships.
• Challenges
  • Lack of SC, ST, and OBC faculty members contributes to student alienation.
    • Adequate representation could provide mentorship and support to marginalized students.
  • Many IITs, IIMs, and law schools failed to respond to UGC’s request for data on Equal Opportunity Cells.
    • Reports indicate that 40% of universities and 80% of colleges have not provided compliance details.
  • SC has acknowledged the low compliance rate and stressed the need for stronger enforcement.
• Way forward
  • Need to change flawed notion of meritocracy
    • The claim that reservations dilute merit is a common but baseless argument.
    • Sociologists argue that so-called "merit" is simply the conversion of historical caste privilege into modern social capital.
    • The Supreme Court in 2022 (Neil Aurelio Nunes vs Union of India) affirmed that reservation enhances merit by ensuring equitable representation.
  • Legal Framework: The UGC should criminalize caste discrimination in educational institutions, similar to laws against ragging and sexual harassment.
  • Institutional Support: The government must implement grievance redressal mechanisms, diversity training, and pedagogical strategies to promote inclusion.
  • Awareness and Structural Changes: Caste annihilation workshops and affirmative action policies must be reinforced to foster equitable campuses.
• Conclusion
  • As Dr. B.R. Ambedkar stated, “Equality may be a fiction, but nonetheless, one must accept it as a governing principle.”
  • To ensure true inclusivity in Indian academia, proactive steps must be taken to dismantle caste-based barriers and create a just, representative educational system.

UGC’s New Draft Regulations Empower It to Act Against Discrimination in Universities

• The Union govt informed the Supreme Court that the draft UGC (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2025 would strengthen the UGC’s authority to tackle caste and religion-based discrimination.
• Petition Against Caste Discrimination in Universities
  • The court was hearing a petition filed by the mothers of Rohith Vemula and Payal Tadvi, who died by suicide after facing caste discrimination.
  • The petition highlighted rampant caste bias in higher education institutions (HEIs), urging the Supreme Court to intervene.
• Key Provisions of the Draft Regulations
  • Objective: Eradication of discrimination based on caste, religion, race, gender, or economic background.
  • Punitive Actions: HEIs failing to comply may face de-recognition, funding restrictions (Section 12B of the UGC Act), and additional penalties.
  • Equity Committees: Proposed in HEIs, consisting of faculty, students, and civil society members, with mandatory SC/ST and female representation.