New Delhi

Dharmendra Pradhan on Friday said recent controversies surrounding the University Grants Commission (UGC) equity regulations and NCERT textbooks were “avoidable,” particularly in the way they were presented.

Speaking at a Times Now summit, the Union education minister stressed that the government does not support discrimination and is committed to constitutional principles of equality.

On the UGC (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2026 — currently under the scrutiny of the Supreme Court of India — Pradhan declined detailed comment, citing the matter as sub judice. However, he assured that the government would act in accordance with the court’s directions.

Addressing the controversy over an NCERT Class 8 textbook that included references to judicial corruption, Pradhan said corrective steps are underway following guidance from the apex court.

A three-member panel led by Indu Malhotra has been constituted to oversee the addition of a revised, closely monitored chapter. The updated content will be placed before the court before inclusion, he said.

The NCERT had earlier apologised for the chapter — which cited corruption, case backlogs, and shortage of judges as challenges in the judicial system — and withdrew the textbook after criticism.

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The UGC regulations, aimed at curbing discrimination against SC, ST, and OBC students through measures such as Equal Opportunity Cells and grievance redressal systems, were stayed by the Supreme Court amid concerns over alleged vagueness and fairness.