On this Special Report, the focus is on the Supreme Court of India’s hearing regarding the University Grants Commission (UGC) Regulations 2026. A bench led by the Chief Justice of India, Justice Suryakant, raised critical questions about the direction of Indian society, stating, ‘after 75 years of independence, we should have been moving towards caste-less society.’ The court is currently examining the legality and constitutionality of these regulations, which have been challenged for being discriminatory against general categories. The petitioners argue that since discrimination is already defined, specific provisions for SC/ST or OBC categories are unnecessary, advocating for a caste-neutral approach. The bench further emphasized that higher educational institutions must reflect the unity of India, contrasting the Indian model with racial segregation seen in Western countries. The court also highlighted concerns regarding regional discrimination, such as students from South India facing bias in Northern institutions. The hearing remains underway as the top court evaluates if these guidelines represent a regression in India’s social progress.