On December 8, 2025, a Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education released a report reviewing autonomous bodies under the Education Ministry. The panel urged the University Grants Commission (UGC) to add discrimination against Other Backward Classes (OBC) in the definition of caste-based discrimination within the government's new Promotion of Equity rules. The committee also called for re-evaluating the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) reservation in Associate Professor and Professor appointments. The panel, led by Congress MP Digvijaya Singh, recommended quickly appointing a Chairperson for the UGC, a post vacant since April 2025. It stressed that the draft UGC regulations for teacher appointments and promotions must be discussed with the Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE), noting concerns from at least 10 states. During a study visit to Varanasi, the committee found it almost impossible to fill EWS positions at Associate Professor and Professor levels. Candidates for these posts earn above ₹8 lakh, exceeding the income criteria for EWS eligibility. The committee said, “Universities spend a lot of time and resources seeking applicants for such positions despite knowing that candidates will be impossible to find. In such a situation, the Committee recommends that the Ministry re-evaluate the implementation of EWS at the level of Associate Professor and Professor.” Regarding equity promotion, the committee recommended adding disability as a discrimination factor. It called for annual public disclosure of caste discrimination cases, mandatory sensitization programs for staff, proper mental health support, and legal aid in all higher education institutions (HEIs). The Equity Committees must include over half members from SC, ST, and OBC communities. The committee described the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 goals as “ambitious,” needing more infrastructure and faculty. However, recent restrictions on funding capital projects threaten these aims. It highlighted a mismatch between the capacity of degree colleges and NEP’s vision, urging a comprehensive evaluation. To support NEP goals, universities also need help with implementing Multiple Entry Multiple Exit frameworks and designing curricula that offer marketable skills through shorter certificate and diploma courses. Finally, the panel pointed out that except for IITs and NITs, newly recruited faculty at Central universities and UGC-funded institutions do not receive seed grants for research and setup costs, limiting academic growth.