Amid nationwide protests and mounting criticism, the Supreme Court today stayed the University Grants Commission's (UGC) 2026 regulations aimed at promoting equity in higher education, directing that the UGC Regulations, 2012, will remain in force until further orders. A bench headed by the Chief Justice of India, along with Justice Joymalya Bagchi, passed the order while hearing a batch of writ petitions challenging the 2026 UGC Regulations. Issuing notice to the Centre and the UGC, the court listed the matter for further hearing on March 19.