Shimla Protest: Swaran Community Demands UGC Rollback

Hundreds of activists from the Swaran community, representing upper-caste groups, gheraoed the Himachal Pradesh Secretariat in Shimla on Thursday, demanding the rollback of the University Grants Commission (UGC) notification issued in January 2026 and the establishment of a Swaran Aayog. Police deployed water cannons and resorted to mild force after protesters attempted to breach the state secretariat, bringing traffic in parts of Chota Shimla to a standstill.

The demonstration coincided with the arrival of the 21-day, 600-kilometre Swarn Samaj Ashwamedh Nyay Yatra in the state capital. Organised by the Rashtriya Devbhoomi Party and supported by allied associations, the march has been raising demands related to the UGC Regulations and the proposed commission for members of the general category.

Swarn Samaj Yatra Reaches Shimla as Protesters Confront Police

The agitation intensified when demonstrators attempted to move towards and breach the state secretariat. Police personnel intervened to disperse the gathering, using water cannons and mild force as the protest disrupted traffic in Chota Shimla.

The march, which has covered a reported distance of 600 kilometres over 21 days, was organised to press for the withdrawal of the UGC notification and the enactment of legislation establishing a Swaran Aayog. Protesters associated with the Rashtriya Devbhoomi Party and other organisations said their demands had remained unresolved despite sustained agitation.

Rumit Singh Thakur, president of the Rashtriya Devbhoomi Party, described the response to the yatra as overwhelming and called the outcome a “victory for the entire society”. He also expressed gratitude that no cases had been registered against the protesters following Thursday’s demonstration.

The protest has also drawn attention to the political significance that the organisers attach to the Swaran community in Himachal Pradesh. Thakur alleged that successive BJP and Congress governments in the state had failed to address the issues raised by his party.

He warned that political parties would struggle to win the 2027 Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections without the support of the Swaran Samaj. His remarks reflected the organisers’ position that the community represents a substantial section of the state’s population and has considerable social influence.

UGC Regulations and Swaran Aayog at the Centre of the Agitation

The principal demands of the protesters concern the UGC (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2026, and the creation of a state-level Swaran Aayog. Mahipal Singh Makrana, president of the Rajput Karni Sena, which is associated with the agitation, said the movement was focused on securing the rollback of the regulations and a law establishing the commission.

The University Grants Commission notified the UGC (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2026, on January 13, 2026. The regulations were introduced to curb discrimination in higher education institutions across India.

However, the regulations subsequently became the subject of legal scrutiny. On January 29, 2026, a Supreme Court bench stayed their operation, observing that the provisions appeared vague and could be susceptible to misuse.

The protesters continue to demand a rollback of the notification despite the court’s interim intervention. Their stated concerns focus on the regulations’ potential implications for members of the general category and the need for safeguards against what they perceive as possible misuse.

The demand for a Swaran Aayog is a separate but closely linked component of the agitation. The proposed body would be a state-level commission intended to examine and address the economic, educational and social challenges faced by economically weaker sections within the general category.

Supporters of the demand argue that such a commission would provide an institutional mechanism to examine the circumstances of economically disadvantaged members of the community. The protesters are seeking a formal legal framework for the body rather than relying solely on government assurances.

Reservation Policy Becomes a Point of Contention

During the demonstration, Makrana criticised the existing reservation framework, citing provisions for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes and Persons with Disabilities. He said the current system was unfair to the Swaran community and expressed concern about opportunities for its younger members.

Makrana referred to reservation figures of 15 per cent for Scheduled Castes, 7.5 per cent for Scheduled Tribes, 27 per cent for Other Backward Classes and 4 per cent for Persons with Disabilities. He described these provisions as a “cruel joke” on the Swaran Samaj, arguing that they had restricted educational opportunities for its children.

He claimed that the reservation framework had affected the ability of young people from the community to access higher education institutions. These statements represent the position of the protesting organisations as they press the state government to consider their demands.

The reservation issue forms part of the broader debate surrounding the proposed Swaran Aayog. The commission, as envisaged by the protesters, would focus on the difficulties faced by economically weaker members of the general category, including challenges relating to education and social and economic development.

The demands have been accompanied by calls for legislative action. Makrana said the agitation had continued for eight months and that similar marches were planned in other states, indicating that the organisers intended to extend the campaign beyond Himachal Pradesh.

Minister Anirudh Singh Holds Talks With Protesters

Amid the tense situation outside the secretariat, Himachal Pradesh Panchayat and Rural Development Minister Anirudh Singh was deputed to speak with the demonstrators on Thursday. He received a memorandum from the agitators and subsequently addressed the media about the demands placed before the government.

Singh said that, in his personal opinion, a commission should be constituted for the Swaran community. He added that the state government listens to the demands of different sections of society and confirmed that Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu was scheduled to meet the leaders of the agitation on Friday.

The minister’s remarks offered an indication of his personal position on the proposed commission, but did not amount to an announcement that the government had decided to establish the body. The planned meeting between the chief minister and the protest leaders is expected to provide an opportunity for further discussions on their demands.

Thakur welcomed the decision to send a cabinet minister to hold talks with the demonstrators, describing it as significant because Singh represented the state government. The organisers have maintained that their demands require attention at the highest levels of the state administration.

The outcome of the proposed meeting will be important in determining whether the government and the protesting groups can reach an understanding on the issues raised during the yatra. As of Thursday, the protesters’ principal demands remained the rollback of the UGC notification and legislation to establish a Swaran Aayog.

Organisers Plan Further Protests Across States

Makrana said the movement had been active for eight months and that similar yatras were planned in other parts of the country. According to him, four states had already been covered, while other major states would be included in the coming days.

He also announced plans for a large protest in Delhi on January 10. The announcement signals the organisers’ intention to continue mobilising support for their demands beyond the current demonstration in Shimla.

The proposed expansion of the campaign comes as the protesters seek a response from the Himachal Pradesh government on the Swaran Aayog and continue to challenge the UGC regulations. Their leaders have framed the movement around representation, educational opportunities and the perceived need to address the difficulties of economically weaker members of the general category.

For the state government, the immediate focus is on engaging with the organisers and addressing the issues raised during the march. The chief minister’s scheduled meeting with the agitation leaders on Friday is the next key development identified in the protest programme.

The demonstration has brought the competing demands surrounding higher education regulations, reservation and community-specific welfare measures into public focus in Himachal Pradesh. Whether the discussions result in concrete steps on the proposed commission or other demands remains to be seen.