South Central UGC rules protests and the myth of “misuse”, Kerala SNDP-NSS breakup | South Central Episode 60
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Jan 30, 2026 Mridula Vanangamudi, a Bengaluru rights lawyer, and Sudipto Mondal, The News Minute executive editor, break down the UGC equity regulations and campus protests. They probe caste protections, contest the “misuse” narrative, and unpack regulatory vagueness. They then trace rapid Kerala political twists around SNDP and NSS, explaining why unity talks collapsed and the wider communal and electoral stakes.
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Subscriber-Funded Nicobar Documentary Faced Barriers
- South Central team funded and produced a one-hour documentary on the Great Nicobar transshipment port using subscriber donations.
- The crew faced restricted access and surveillance while reporting on tribal and ecological impacts.
Tighten Definitions And Spell Out Remedies
- Revise the UGC regulation to include explicit prohibitory clauses and detailed illustrations of caste discrimination.
- Tighten definitions and spell out remedies to withstand legal challenge and reduce public anxiety.
Vagueness, Not Malice, Fuels Fear
- Anxiety about career-ruining punishments stems from the UGC draft's vagueness on consequences and enforcement processes.
- Mridula urges clearer penalties and appeal mechanisms to reduce fear while keeping accountability for caste discrimination.