UGC notifies transgenders as third gender

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has notified transgenders as the third gender to enable them to avail benefits of all scholarship schemes and fellowship programmes in higher educational institutions.

Issuing a notification on Wednesday, the higher education regulator has directed all universities and colleges to treat them as third gender for the purpose of admission and various scholarship schemes and programmes.

This comes following a landmark ruling by the Supreme Court according the third gender status to transgenders.  “Transgender has been included as third gender in compliance with the apex court order,” a senior UGC official said.

The notification has been issued so that they do not face difficulty in availing of the UGC’s schemes and programmes offered to students, he said. Transgenders will be entitled to all existing merit-based schemes and programmes of the UGC. “They are now eligible applicants for all schemes and programmes of the UGC,” he added.

The Supreme Courtheld that the third gender will be considered as the OBC, directing the government to provide them with education and employment reservation under this category.