The Uttar Pradesh government had suspended him Monday on charges of indiscipline following his resignation from service in protest against government policies, especially the new UGC rules. The new regulations replace the UGC (Promotion of Equity in Higher Educational Institutions) Regulations, 2012, which was largely advisory in nature. Meanwhile, Left-backed student group All India Students' Association released a statement backing the UGC Equity Regulations, 2026. He claimed the UGC regulations could foment caste-based discontent and vitiate the academic environment. In his resignation statement, Agnihotri had described the new UGC regulations as a "black law".

Source: The Telegraph January 27, 2026 17:48 UTC