UGC Equity Regulations: Lucknow University march against caste discrimination stopped; leaders detained

A student march, ‘Samta Samvardhan March’, demanding the implementation of University Grants Commission (UGC) equity regulations, 2026, was stopped by police at the University of Lucknow on Friday. Protesters alleged that some leaders were forcibly detained while attempting to continue their “peaceful procession”.

According to a statement by All India Students’ Association (AISA), the march was organised as a national call to “strengthen equity mechanisms in higher education”. It began at Gate No. 3 and was scheduled to proceed to Gate No. 1 of the Lucknow University campus.

In the statement, the organisers alleged that despite prior written intimation to the authorities about the peaceful nature of the march, heavy police deployment was placed along the entire route. They claimed that barricades were erected, preventing students from proceeding from Gate No. 3 to Gate No. 1. According to the statement, the march was stopped midway and several student leaders were forcibly detained.

The University Grants Commission (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2026, published in January as part of an effort to protect students from historically-marginalised communities in the universities from discrimination, have led to intense protests. The regulations themselves have been stayed by the Supreme Court. Student protesting in support of the regulations have faced punitive action in Banaras Hindu University.

Also read Caste on Campus: The shape of discrimination in universities and why many back UGC equity regulations

Lucknow University protests

AISA’s statement alleges that some student leaders were dragged by police personnel during the march.

In a statement, AISA said the students were demanding that caste-based discrimination be clearly recognised as a punishable offence within higher educational institutions (HEIs).

It called for autonomous Equal Opportunity and Anti-Discrimination bodies that function without administrative interference, as well as the creation of a state-level Higher Education Social Justice Commission with the power to investigate complaints and monitor institutions.

AISA said students also want time-bound grievance redress, an appeals process outside university control, and protection for complainants against victimisation.

Harshvardhan, joint secretary of AISA Uttar Pradesh, said preventing the march “reinforces the urgency of independent and enforceable equity bodies”.

Shubham Kharwar, general secretary of National Students Union of India (NSUI) UP, said students raising constitutional demands “should not be met with force.”

Other student leaders described the police action as “selective enforcement” and alleged that similar levels of policing were not seen during earlier protests opposing equity regulations.

Several student organisations joined the march, including AISA, National Students' Union of India (NSUI), Samajwadi Chhatra Sabha (SCS), Bhim Army Student Federation (BASF), Students’ Federation of India (SFI), Birsa Ambedkar Phule Students’ Association (BAPSA), YUVA and Ambedkarvadi Vidhyarthi Sangh.