UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Professors, students protest against stay on UGC equity rules

Q1. With reference to the UGC (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2026, consider the following categories whose representation on an institution's Equity Committee is mandated by the Regulations: 1. Scheduled Castes 2. Other Backward Classes 3. Persons with Disabilities 4. Linguistic minorities Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. Scheduled Castes
  2. Other Backward Classes
  3. Persons with Disabilities
  4. Linguistic minorities
  • A. 1 and 3 only
  • B. 2 and 4 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q2. Under Regulation 3(c) of the UGC (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2026 — recently stayed by the Supreme Court — the term 'caste-based discrimination' is defined as discrimination only on the basis of caste or tribe against members of which one of the following groups?

  • A. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes only
  • B. Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes
  • C. All citizens irrespective of social category
  • D. Members of the Most Backward Castes within the Scheduled Castes

Q3. With reference to the UGC (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2026 and the earlier UGC framework of 2012, consider the following statements: 1. The 2026 Regulations replaced the UGC's 2012 anti-discrimination framework on being notified. 2. During the Supreme Court's interim stay of the 2026 Regulations, the 2012 framework has been directed to continue to apply. 3. Unlike the 2012 framework, the 2026 Regulations were drafted on the directive of the Ministry of Education and not pursuant to any Supreme Court order. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The 2026 Regulations replaced the UGC's 2012 anti-discrimination framework on being notified.
  2. During the Supreme Court's interim stay of the 2026 Regulations, the 2012 framework has been directed to continue to apply.
  3. Unlike the 2012 framework, the 2026 Regulations were drafted on the directive of the Ministry of Education and not pursuant to any Supreme Court order.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q4. The University Grants Commission, which notified the Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions Regulations, 2026, is a statutory body constituted under which one of the following?

  • A. The University Grants Commission Act, 1956
  • B. The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009
  • C. The Central Universities Act, 2009
  • D. The Ministry of Education (Allocation of Business) Rules, 1961

Q5. With reference to the UGC (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2026, consider the following categories listed as mandated constituent members of an institution's Equity Committee: 1. Scheduled Tribes 2. Persons with Disabilities 3. Women 4. Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) Which of the above is/are NOT correctly identified as a mandated category?

  1. Scheduled Tribes
  2. Persons with Disabilities
  3. Women
  4. Economically Weaker Sections (EWS)
  • A. 1 and 3
  • B. 2 and 4
  • C. 1, 2 and 4
  • D. 4 only