New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Union government on Thursday (November 5) informed the Supreme Court that it was considering constituting a committee to revisit the UGC (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2026 – the rules meant to tackle caste-based discrimination in higher education institutions, reported Economic Times.Appearing for the Union government, Solicitor general (SG) Tushar Mehta told a bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant that the government was examining the issue to ensure that the “concerns of students from all sections were addressed and no one felt dissatisfied or apprehensive.”“The government is contemplating appointing a committee,” Mehta informed the bench.The rules were introduced earlier in the year and later withdrawn after outrage from the ‘general category’ (those belonging to Savarna caste groups and not the Other Backward Classes, the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes or to Dalit communities).Mehta’s submission came after the bench suggested that the government reconsider the regulations and ensure that the framework protects the interests of every student. Following the court’s observations, Mehta said the government was aware of the concerns surrounding the regulations and was considering steps to address them.Thereafter, the court adjourned the hearing for a batch of petitions challenging the regulations by four weeks, giving the Union government time to consider the issue.Notified on January 13, 2026, the key provisions of the UGC Regulations, 2026 included: a) institutions must set up an Equal Opportunity Centre (EOC), an Equity Committee, and Equity Squads to address discrimination; b) a 24-hour ‘Equity Helpline’ and Equity Ambassadors will be appointed; c) the UGC will monitor compliance, and non-compliant institutions risk losing funding and other benefits.The protesters who opposed the regulations claimed that this “may harass general category students and deepen caste divisions”. Supporters of these new regulations say they don’t go far enough to protect marginalised groups.