30.01.2026.Untouchability News.(News of Dalits,Adivasi,atrocity,buddhist,Dr Ambedkar,Employement,Education news details from various sources)by Sivaji.Ayyayiram UTNews.9444917060
HNLU celebrates 5th Dr BR Ambedkar Memorial Lecture on 77th Republic Day | https://www.barandbench.com/news/lawschools/hnlu-celebrates-5th-dr-br-ambedkar-memorial-lecture-on-77th-republic-day.
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Dalit laborer dies in Saharanpur after under-construction roof collapses: Married a year ago, pregnant wife left without support
A laborer died on the spot when the roof of an under-construction house collapsed in the Kutubsher police station area of Saharanpur. The deceased has been identified as 21-year-old Nitin, son of Ramesh, a resident of Igrikala village. Nitin had gone to Rupdi Kapurpur village for work.
The incident occurred on Wednesday when Nitin was demolishing the old roof of the house while working. Suddenly, the entire roof collapsed, and Nitin was buried under the debris.
People nearby tried to rescue him, but he had already died. The news of the incident plunged the deceased’s family into mourning. Upon receiving the information, police and administrative officials reached the spot and assessed the situation.
Following the accident, the administration immediately convened a meeting to address potential tensions between the two villages. After mutual discussions, an agreement was reached on the funeral and other related issues, maintaining peace in the area.
The deceased, Nitin, had been married for about a year. His wife is approximately eight months pregnant. This incident has deeply affected the family, as Nitin was the sole breadwinner.
Upon learning of the incident, BSP District President Rajneesh Bandhu, ASPA District President Sachin Khurana, Bhim Army Jai Bhim organization’s District President Sunny Gautam, and several other office bearers of social organizations reached the spot.
These office bearers and socially responsible individuals like Rajneesh Ujala, Asif Ali, Beer Singh, Sukhbir Pradhan, Harshit Pradhan, and Narendra Gautam consoled the family. Immediate financial assistance was provided by the authorities, and further assistance from the government level was assured.
In the presence of socially responsible people, the family declined any legal action and took the body with them. The young man’s last rites will be performed this afternoon.
Tariq Siddiqui | Saharanpur
Courtesy: Hindi News
Dalit youth brutally beaten in Hathras: Attackers bit him with their teeth for resisting, police investigating
A case of brutal assault on a Dalit youth has come to light in Sikandra Rao, Hathras. The youth was seriously injured by goons in the Sikandra Rao police station area. The victim's brother, Ranjit Kumar, has filed a complaint with the police.
Ranjit Kumar, a resident of Mohalla Qazian, stated in his complaint that his brother Asharfi had gone to the forest to defecate around 4 pm. There, 4 to 5 youths surrounded him and started taking money from his pocket. When Asharfi resisted, the accused attacked him with sticks, rods, and kicks and punches.
According to the complaint, during the assault, the attackers bit Asharfi on the back with their teeth, causing him to lose consciousness on the spot. Upon receiving information about the incident, the family members reached the spot and immediately informed the police by dialing 112. The injured Asharfi was taken to the hospital for treatment, where he is currently undergoing treatment.
The victim’s family alleges that the attackers are the same goons who run a roadside eatery in the area and illegally sell liquor. Ranjit Kumar also stated that the accused had previously assaulted his brother. He has demanded strict action against the accused and expressed fear for his life.
In this matter, Kotwali in-charge Shiv Kumar Sharma said that they have received the complaint and the matter is being investigated. Further legal action will be taken based on the investigation.
Jaynendra Varshney | Sikandararao, Hathras
Courtesy: Hindi News
Public hearing in Hyderabad highlights gaps in SC/ST Atrocities Act enforcement
A seven-member civil society jury heard testimonies from Dalit and Adivasi victims at a public hearing in Hyderabad, where activists and legal experts flagged systemic failures in the implementation of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act in Telangana.
The Telangana chapter of the National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM), along with other state-level anti-caste organisations, held a public meeting on Sunday, January 25, to review the implementation of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
A seven-member jury comprising civil society representatives heard testimonies detailing atrocities faced by Dalits and Adivasis from various parts of Telangana.
The jury examined 90 cases presented before it, of which victims in 30 cases deposed in person at the review meeting held at Hyderabad’s Sundarayya Vignyana Kendram (SVK).
The cases reflected a wide range of issues, including inter-caste and gender-based killings, sexual assault, police torture, custodial violence, and verbal abuse.
Speaking at the meeting on the failure to effectively implement the SC/ST Act, retired judge Justice Nimma Narayana said that the Supreme Court and High Courts had not been sufficiently proactive in applying legislative rigour while examining cases under the Act.
Advocate Darshanam Narasimha highlighted Section 4 of the Act, which provides for punishment of public servants, including police officers, for neglect of duty.
Speakers such as Professors Sujatha Surepally, Rama Melkote, and Kalpana Kannabiran spoke on issues of gender, caste-based humiliation, and constitutional morality, stressing the need for strict and meaningful implementation of the SC/ST Act.
The panel noted that the Telangana government must ensure uniform implementation of the Act across the state and demanded the establishment of district-level vigilance and monitoring committees in all districts.
The jury said it would submit a list of demands to the Telangana government to ensure effective implementation of the Act in the foreseeable future.
The public hearing forms part of a year-long Constitutional Justice Campaign initiated by NAPM Telangana from Republic Day 2026.
Courtesy : TNM
Supreme Court stays 2026 UGC equity rules, calls it ‘too sweeping’
“After whatever we have gained in the past 75 years towards forging a casteless society, are we going for a regressive policy now,” the Chief Justice Surya Kant asks
Updated - January 29, 2026 11:06 pm IST - NEW DELHI
The new regulations mandating all higher education institutions to form “equity committees” to look into discrimination complaints and promote equity were notified on January 13., 2026. File | Photo Credit: Reuters
The Supreme Court of India on Thursday (January 29, 2026) kept in abeyance the University Grants Commission (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2026, which allegedly recognises only caste-based discrimination committed against Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Communities within educational campuses while failing to protect upper castes or general category students.
“The 2026 Regulations have sweeping consequences which will divide the society,” Chief Justice Surya Kant, heading a Bench comprising Justice Joymalya Bagchi, observed.
“Ragging is one of the biggest problems in educational campuses. If a general category fresher resists ragging by a Scheduled Caste senior, there is a chance that the latter could file a complaint under the 2026 Regulations while the former has no remedy. It could mushroom into a police case. The fresher could be charged, put behind bars and his future would come to an end possibly on the very first day of college,” the petitioners’ lawyer submitted.
The court agreed that the 2026 Regulations required a closer examination. It said, for the time being, the University Grants Commission (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2012 would continue to be in force.
The court issued notice to the Union government and the UGC on the petitions specifically challenging Regulation 3(c) of the 2026 Regulations, which defined ‘caste-based discrimination’ “only on the basis of caste or tribe against the members of the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes.”
Senior advocate Indira Jaising and advocate Prasanna S. intervened against the stay order, saying keeping the regulations in abeyance was akin to “calling a fully abled person as disabled”. The Regulations, she said, addressed a real and present problem of discrimination against students from Dalit and historically oppressed castes within higher education institutions.
“After whatever we have gained in the past 75 years towards forging a casteless society, are we going for a regressive policy now,” the Chief Justice asked.
He said discrimination was not solely based on caste.
“Children come from faraway places northeast or the south to study in campuses here. They carry their cultural values with them. Everyone should be proud of them when they follow those cultural practices here. But somebody who is completely alien to these practices starts commenting on them disparagingly. This is the worst form of ragging,” Chief Justice Kant observed.
Justice Bagchi said that rather than focussing exclusively on caste, the regulations should speak of an all-inclusive discrimination. “We should not go to the stage of segregated schools and hostels. The unity of India must be reflected in its educational institutions,” Justice Bagchi noted.
Chief Justice Kant asked, “how will people behave outside the campus, if this is done inside the campus?”
The petitions filed by Rahul Dewan, Mritunjay Tiwari and advocate Vineet Jindal said the definition of ‘caste-based discrimination’ in the 2026 Regulations “by design and operation, accords legal recognition of victimhood exclusively to certain reserved categories and categorically excludes persons belonging to general or upper castes from its protective ambit, regardless of the nature, gravity, or context of discrimination suffered by them.”
The petition said a myopic definition would institutionalise exclusion at the threshold, creating a “hierarchy of victimhood while introducing a constitutionally impermissible bias into a regulatory framework that purports to be neutral and inclusive”.
Published - January 29, 2026 01:30 pm IST
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SC, ST, OBC employees make up 66% of sanitation workers, 40% of Group A staff: DoPT report flags representation gaps
Previous DoPT reports showed similar trends, with SC/ST/OBC employees making up 59 to 60 % of safai karamcharis in 2021 and 2022.
2 min readNew DelhiUpdated: Jan 29, 2026 03:29 PM IST
SC, ST, and OBC workers accounted for 36.75 per cent, 8.18 per cent and 21.15 per cent of the safai karamcharis, respectively. (Source: Express Archives)Workers from Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST) and Other Backward Classes (OBC) accounted for 66 per cent of the sanitation workers employed by 80 Union ministries or departments in 2024, while the same groups made up 40 per cent of Group A and 46 per cent of Group B employees, the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) annual report for 2024-2025 shows.
The report shows that while SC, ST and OBC employees accounted for 52 per cent of the total 32.52 lakh employees, they accounted for 66 per cent of the 40,737 safai karamcharis or sanitation workers in Group C posts in the 80 ministries/departments covered. SC, ST, and OBC workers accounted for 36.75 per cent, 8.18 per cent and 21.15 per cent of the safai karamcharis, respectively. In the case of other Group C posts, apart from safai karamcharis, SC, ST and OBC employees made up 53 per cent of the total.
For Group A posts, SC, ST, and OBC employees accounted for 14.20 per cent, 6.54 per cent, and 19.14 per cent of the total 1.19 lakh employees. In Group B posts, SC, ST, and OBC employees made up 16.20 per cent, 7.63 per cent and 21.95 per cent of the total 3.64 lakh employees.
As per the government’s reservation policy, 15 per cent, 7.5 per cent, and 27 per cent reservation is applicable for SCs, STs and OBCs in direct recruitment on an all-India basis by open competition.As per previous DoPT annual reports, 60 per cent of safai karamcharis in 75 ministries/departments in 2022 were from SC, ST, and OBC communities. In 2021, the percentage was 59 per cent in 72 ministries/departments.
Earlier, the government had informed Parliament that 97 per cent of the people engaged in manual scavenging came from the Scheduled Castes.
In a reply in the Rajya Sabha in December 2021, Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Ramdas Athawale had said that while the government had not conducted any specific study of the religion and caste backgrounds of those engaged in manual scavenging, 58,098 manual scavengers had been identified under provisions of the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013. Out of these, caste data was available for 43,797 individuals, of which 42,594 were SCs, 421 STs, 431 OBCs, and 351 others.
A statue of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar was found vandalized in Bahru village, Lucknow, early on January 29.
SC, ST, and OBC workers accounted for 36.75 per cent, 8.18 per cent and 21.15 per cent of the safai karamcharis, respectively. (Source: Express Archives)Workers from Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST) and Other Backward Classes (OBC) accounted for 66 per cent of the sanitation workers employed by 80 Union ministries or departments in 2024, while the same groups made up 40 per cent of Group A and 46 per cent of Group B employees, the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) annual report for 2024-2025 shows.
The report shows that while SC, ST and OBC employees accounted for 52 per cent of the total 32.52 lakh employees, they accounted for 66 per cent of the 40,737 safai karamcharis or sanitation workers in Group C posts in the 80 ministries/departments covered. SC, ST, and OBC workers accounted for 36.75 per cent, 8.18 per cent and 21.15 per cent of the safai karamcharis, respectively. In the case of other Group C posts, apart from safai karamcharis, SC, ST and OBC employees made up 53 per cent of the total.
For Group A posts, SC, ST, and OBC employees accounted for 14.20 per cent, 6.54 per cent, and 19.14 per cent of the total 1.19 lakh employees. In Group B posts, SC, ST, and OBC employees made up 16.20 per cent, 7.63 per cent and 21.95 per cent of the total 3.64 lakh employees.
As per previous DoPT annual reports, 60 per cent of safai karamcharis in 75 ministries/departments in 2022 were from SC, ST, and OBC communities. In 2021, the percentage was 59 per cent in 72 ministries/departments.
Earlier, the government had informed Parliament that 97 per cent of the people engaged in manual scavenging came from the Scheduled Castes.
In a reply in the Rajya Sabha in December 2021, Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Ramdas Athawale had said that while the government had not conducted any specific study of the religion and caste backgrounds of those engaged in manual scavenging, 58,098 manual scavengers had been identified under provisions of the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013. Out of these, caste data was available for 43,797 individuals, of which 42,594 were SCs, 421 STs, 431 OBCs, and 351 others.
Authorities were informed around 7:30am via Dial-112 and police arrived.
The report did not mention any previous incidents.
Police response and new protective steps
Authorities were informed around 7:30am via Dial-112 and police arrived.
The report did not mention any previous incidents.
Police quickly registered an FIR and assured the crowd that action would be fair and thorough.
The Assistant Commissioner met with villagers to address their concerns and calm tensions.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has announced plans to protect all Ambedkar statues across Uttar Pradesh with boundary walls and canopies, hoping to prevent future incidents like this one.
Police are also checking CCTV footage to track down suspects.
Police quickly registered an FIR and assured the crowd that action would be fair and thorough.
The Assistant Commissioner met with villagers to address their concerns and calm tensions.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has announced plans to protect all Ambedkar statues across Uttar Pradesh with boundary walls and canopies, hoping to prevent future incidents like this one.
Police are also checking CCTV footage to track down suspects.
**30 January 2026**### National-Level Highlights.
- **Supreme Court stays UGC (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2026** (notified January 2026): The court (on ~29 January 2026) put implementation on hold, calling it "too sweeping." It allegedly focuses protections only on SC/ST/OBC students against caste discrimination, excluding general category students. This sparked debates on inclusivity vs. potential misuse.- **Census 2026-27 preparations**: The Ministry of Home Affairs notified schedules, with houselisting from April-September 2026 and population enumeration in February 2027 (reference date 1 March 2027). It will include caste details for the first time since 1931, influencing future SC/ST policies and reservations.- **Atrocities/Prevention**: Ongoing Supreme Court rulings clarify that mere abusive language isn't automatically an offence under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act unless tied to caste intent and public humiliation. Calls continue for faster FIRs and justice in cases.
### State-Wise Key News (Focused on Recent/2026-Relevant Developments)- **Telangana** — Leads in SC sub-categorization (implemented April 2025, but referenced ongoing in 2026 context): First state to divide 15% SC quota into groups (e.g., Group I: 1%, Group II: 9%, Group III: 5%) for more disadvantaged sub-castes. Reservations may adjust post-2026 census if SC population rises.- **Karnataka** — ST groups demand internal reservation similar to proposed SC sub-quotas (discussed January 2026). Earlier (2025) statewide SC sub-caste census conducted for data on demographics.- **Andhra Pradesh** — State SC Commission member urged immediate FIRs for Dalit atrocity reports (early February 2026). Review meetings planned for pending cases.- **Uttar Pradesh / Rajasthan / Madhya Pradesh / Others** — Congress highlighted (January 2026) that BJP-ruled states like UP, MP, Rajasthan account for high % of Dalit atrocities (based on pre-2023 data; UP often tops lists). No major new 2026-specific atrocity spikes reported around 30 Jan, but calls for better data release and action persist.- **Other mentions** — Discussions on land issues (e.g., Rajasthan Dalit/Adivasi land grabs), anti-discrimination laws (pushed in some states like Karnataka/Telangana), and political outreach to Dalit subgroups.
Around **30 January 2026** (Shaheed Diwas/Martyrs' Day, marking Gandhi's assassination), observances emphasized social justice and equality, with some tying it to Dalit rights historically, but no major new SC-specific incidents or announcements tied directly to that date in searches.
Post-30 January.2026.
### National-Level Highlights- **Union Budget 2026-27 focus on tribals**: Expected emphasis on social sector welfare for vulnerable groups, including: - Tribal health observatories in eight states (Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Telangana, Assam) to track and combat diseases. - Community-managed tribal creches. - Sports hubs in schools for tribal areas. - Self-reliant tribal clusters, employment generation, malnutrition reduction, and infrastructure (roads, housing) in remote/PVTG areas while preserving culture/lifestyle. - Key allocations: ₹5,700 crore for PM Vanbandhu Kalyan Yojana (ST development), ₹7,150 crore for Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) for quality ST education.- **Ongoing schemes and missions**: - Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (launched 2024, continuing in 2026). - PM-JANMAN, National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission. - Capacity building for tribal healers to integrate traditional knowledge into community healthcare (national program started January 2026). - Expansion of legal aid centres in tribal/remote areas (e.g., 132 in Odisha via District/Taluk Legal Services Authorities).- **Census 2026-27 preparations**: Will include detailed tribe data (first since 1931 for castes broadly), aiding sub-categorization, reservations, and policy targeting. ST population projected ~128-130 million (around 8.9% of total).- **UGC Equity Regulations 2026 stay**: Supreme Court stayed (late January 2026) the rules on caste discrimination protections in higher education, citing vagueness/misuse risks; they focused on SC/ST/OBC but excluded general category—sparked debates on inclusivity.
### State-Wise Key Developments (Recent/2026-Relevant)- **Karnataka**: ST groups (e.g., in Dakshina Kannada/Udupi) demanding internal reservation/sub-categorization within the 7.5% ST quota, similar to SC model (January 2026 protests/action committees). Push for separate quotas across ~50 ST castes, potentially via legal routes or legislature.- **Odisha**: CM Mohan Charan Majhi (January 2026) emphasized tribal inclusion in "Viksit Odisha by 2036," protecting land/forest/water rights (tribals ~25% of population). Adivasi Mela 2026 highlighted welfare schemes; focus on mainstream development without displacing culture.- **Assam**: Ongoing debate on ST status for six communities (Tai Ahom, Chutia, Moran, Matak, Koch-Rajbongshi, Tea Tribes/Adivasis). State proposal sent to Centre (January 2026); clarified no impact on existing ST rights via three-tier classification (Plains/Hills/Valley). Tribal bodies (e.g., CCTOA) rejected it as "unconstitutional" (early 2026).- **Other mentions**: - Maharashtra: Tribal farmers' long marches (from 2018 issues) persist into 2026, unresolved land/rights demands. - Madhya Pradesh: Tribal leaders call for national funds beyond welfare—targeted education, livelihoods, addressing historical gaps (pre-Budget 2026). - General: Republic Day 2026 invited 90 tribal guests as "ambassadors" of progress (Ministry of Tribal Affairs event).
### Broader ContextSTs lag in education, health, and income compared to others, but schemes like EMRS, scholarships (covering ~30 lakh ST students via DBT), and livelihood programs (e.g., Venture Capital Fund for STs) continue. Sub-categorization within STs (permitted by Supreme Court 2024 ruling) is gaining traction in states like Karnataka, potentially informed by upcoming census data.....
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