Members of the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI), the student wing of the Congress party, staged a protest on Tuesday against the draft regulations proposed by the University Grants Commission (UGC). The demonstration took place near the Odisha Assembly, where activists voiced their opposition to the proposed changes in higher education policies.

Led by Odisha Congress president Bhakta Charan Das, the protesters marched towards the assembly, holding party flags and banners while raising slogans against the UGC’s draft regulations. However, they were stopped mid-way by police personnel deployed to control the agitation.

Tensions escalated when the demonstrators attempted to breach police barricades, leading to a scuffle between the activists and security forces. Several student Congress workers were detained as authorities intervened to prevent further disruptions.

Speaking on the protest, NSUI leaders accused the UGC of introducing reforms that they claim would undermine the autonomy of educational institutions and negatively impact students. They demanded an immediate rollback of the draft regulations and urged the Odisha government to take a stand against the proposed changes.

Meanwhile, security around the assembly remained tight, with additional police forces deployed to prevent further escalation. No major injuries were reported in the clash, but the protest highlighted growing discontent among student groups regarding higher education policies.

Authorities have yet to respond to the demands of the NSUI, and further protests have not been ruled out in the coming days.