Union Education Ministry Constitutes Expert Panel to Revise Anti‑Discrimination Guidelines in Higher Education.
National
On 2 August, the Union Education Ministry constituted an Expert Panel aimed at revisiting and strengthening anti‑discrimination guidelines in higher educational institutions. The move focuses on ensuring equitable environments for students from Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Other Backward Classes (OBC), Persons with Disabilities (PwD), and other minority communities.
- The panel has been set up under the University Grants Commission (UGC) to comprehensively review existing regulations and schemes related to marginalized communities in universities and colleges, including SC, ST, OBC, PwD, and minorities.
- This initiative follows a Supreme Court directive issued on 6 July, which raised concerns over discrimination and student suicides among marginalized communities at premier institutions. The Court emphasized the need for “out‑of‑the‑box thinking” to address these sensitive issues on campuses.
- The panel’s mandate includes assessing the effectiveness of existing anti‑discrimination guidelines—including those framed in the UGC Promotion of Equity Regulations, 2012, and the updated grievance redressal norms of 2023—and identifying gaps in implementation.
Main Point :- (i) Based on its findings, the Expert Panel will propose amendments and remedial measures to make campus environments more inclusive, foster diversity awareness, and encourage reporting of discriminatory incidents.
(ii) The existing UGC regulations mandate institutions to prohibit, prevent, and penalize any harassment or victimization based on caste, creed, religion, gender, disability, or ethnicity, and require liaison officers and grievance cells to address discrimination effectively.
(iii) The constitution of this panel reflects the government’s proactive approach to safeguard marginalized students’ rights and underscores a commitment to promote equity and respect across campuses nationwide.
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