UGC Protest Live Updates: Highlights

UGC Protest Live Updates:Statewide protests against the UGC’s new equity regulations intensified on Wednesday, with students, lawyers and local leaders staging demonstrations in several districts of Uttar Pradesh. The regulations require all higher education institutions to form equity committees with mandatory representation from OBC, SC and ST communities, a move protesters claim is divisive and prone to misuse.In Lucknow, Chhatra Panchayat members gathered at Hazratganj, alleging the rules discriminate against general category students and lack safeguards against false complaints. Similar concerns were echoed in Prayagraj, where students assembled on the Allahabad University campus, and lawyers near the high court warned of a larger agitation if the regulations were not withdrawn within 48 hours.Varanasi witnessed tense scenes as students from BHU and MGKVP were stopped by police while marching towards the district headquarters, forcing them to stage a dharna. Protesters questioned the absence of mandatory representation for upper caste members in grievance committees.In Kanpur, CSA University students marched wearing black bands, while some protesters shaved their heads. Political dissent also surfaced, with a BJP Kisan Morcha leader resigning in Rae Bareli. In Kaushambi, a local ‘Savarna Army’ leader drew attention by writing to the Prime Minister in blood, branding the regulations a “black law.”