In the context of the recent UGC "Promotion of Equity" Regulations 2026 controversy, Kushal Mehra’s post uses philosophical shorthand to critique the shift in Indian educational policy from a "fairness" model to an "identity power" model.
Here is the breakdown of why this framing "makes sense" within political philosophy:
1. The "Rawlsian" 2012 Regulations
Mehra characterizes the 2012 UGC regulations as Rawlsian, referring to John Rawls’s Theory of Justice.
- The Logic: Rawls proposed the "Veil of Ignorance," where justice is defined by rules that anyone would agree to, regardless of their own identity.
- The Policy: The 2012 rules were largely advisory, focusing on creating equal opportunity through procedural fairness and specific officers, without fundamentally reordering campus social structures.
2. The "Derridean/Foucauldian" 2026 Regulations
(Power/Knowledge): Viewed institutions (schools, prisons) as sites of surveillance and power. Mehra likely links this to the new 2026 "Equity Squads" and "Equity Ambassadors" who maintain "vigil" on campuses, framing them as a Foucauldian surveillance apparatus.
3. The "Negative Outcomes"
Mehra warns that moving from (universal fairness) to / (identity-based power analysis) leads to:
- Presumption of Guilt: The 2026 rules removed penalties for false complaints, leading to fears that the burden of proof has shifted entirely to the accused.
- Inherent Bias: Critics argue the rules only recognize discrimination against SC, ST, and OBC groups, effectively creating a "one-sided" legal framework that ignores the possibility of "general category" victims.
- Social Friction: The Supreme Court stayed the 2026 regulations in late January 2026, noting they were "too sweeping" and could have "divisive consequences" for society.
Summary: The post "makes sense" as a philosophical critique of the shift from procedural equality (2012) to a radical equity/surveillance model (2026) that prioritizes group identity and institutional power dynamics over individual due process.
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