SC Puts UGC 2026 Norms On Hold, Flags Vagueness After Weeks Of Student Protests

After weeks of intense student protests, the Supreme Court has delivered a major blow to the Centre by putting the UGC 2026 norms on hold. The apex court ruled that the 2012 UGC regulations will continue, calling the new norms prima facie vague and prone to misuse. In sharp remarks, the court warned against policies that could divide campuses, stressing that national unity must reflect in universities. Questioning the government’s direction, it asked if decades of progress were being undone. While students have welcomed the pause, political sparring has now intensified, leaving the Centre under pressure to respond.