UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — UGC equity rules flow from Article 15’s mandate to remedy historical injustice

Q1. In the context of the University Grants Commission (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2026, what is the 'Equal Opportunity Centre (EOC)'?

  • A. An external appellate body constituted by the UGC to hear appeals against decisions of an institution's Equity Committee
  • B. The mandatory nodal body within every higher education institution responsible for implementing equity policies and handling discrimination grievances
  • C. A standing committee of Parliament that audits anti-discrimination compliance of central universities
  • D. A judicial tribunal under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment to adjudicate caste-discrimination complaints in HEIs

Q2. With reference to the UGC (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2026 as compared with the UGC Promotion of Equity in Higher Educational Institutions Regulations, 2012, consider the following statements: 1. The 2012 framework operated as advisory guidelines, whereas the 2026 Regulations were notified as legally enforceable mandates through the Gazette of India. 2. Unlike the 2012 framework, the 2026 Regulations omitted ragging from their scope of covered conduct. 3. While the 2012 Regulations applied only to central universities, the 2026 Regulations for the first time extended coverage to all higher education institutions including private universities. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The 2012 framework operated as advisory guidelines, whereas the 2026 Regulations were notified as legally enforceable mandates through the Gazette of India.
  2. Unlike the 2012 framework, the 2026 Regulations omitted ragging from their scope of covered conduct.
  3. While the 2012 Regulations applied only to central universities, the 2026 Regulations for the first time extended coverage to all higher education institutions including private universities.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q3. Under the UGC (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2026, within how many working days is the Equity Committee of a higher education institution required to dispose of a standard (non-severe) discrimination complaint?

  • A. 7 working days
  • B. 15 working days
  • C. 30 working days
  • D. 45 working days

Q4. With reference to the UGC (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2026, which of the following categories are mandatorily required to have representation on the Equity Committee of a higher education institution? 1. Scheduled Castes 2. Scheduled Tribes 3. Persons with Disabilities 4. Religious minorities Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. Scheduled Castes
  2. Scheduled Tribes
  3. Persons with Disabilities
  4. Religious minorities
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • C. 2, 3 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q5. The UGC (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2026 were notified by a statutory body functioning under which one of the following?

  • A. Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education
  • B. Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Education
  • C. Department of Social Justice and Empowerment, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
  • D. Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment