UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — UGC reform debate, faultlines in politics of social justice

Q1. In the context of the UGC (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2026, the term 'Ombudsperson' is best described as:

  • A. an independent authority appointed by the institution to hear appeals in equity-based grievances when a complainant is not satisfied with the decision of the institution's internal mechanism
  • B. the head of the institution who chairs the Equity Committee and conducts first-instance inquiries into discrimination complaints
  • C. a UGC-appointed nodal officer responsible for collating nationwide caste-discrimination data for annual public disclosure
  • D. a retired High Court judge nominated by the UGC to supervise implementation of reservation in admissions in central universities

Q2. The University Grants Commission, which has recently released draft regulations on faculty appointment and on promotion of equity, derives its statutory status from which one of the following?

  • A. A resolution of the Central Advisory Board of Education, 1953
  • B. The University Grants Commission Act, 1956
  • C. Article 246 read with Entry 66 of List I of the Seventh Schedule, by direct notification
  • D. The Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Admission) Act, 2006

Q3. The University Grants Commission, which has issued the draft Minimum Qualifications Regulations, 2025 and the Promotion of Equity Regulations, functions as a statutory body under which one of the following?

  • A. Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Education
  • B. Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education
  • C. Department of Science and Technology, Ministry of Science and Technology
  • D. Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship