The University Grants Commission (UGC) has launched a national alert after it detected 32 fake universities across India. A new note from the higher education regulator last Friday, February 20, said these institutions do not have the power to give degrees which makes any degrees obtained from these institutions useless for employment or continuing studies. Delhi has become the largest hub for such fraudulent institutions with 12 unapproved universities.
A Growing Network of Deception
Numbers of unauthorized institutions have surged sharply from 20 to 32 within the last two years. These are self-identified institutions which frequently use very name-recognition names even mimic international bodies, or legitimate government entities to lure potential students in one of its most unlikely forms.
The UGC confirmed that it was only the universities established through Central or State Act and those designated "Deemed-to-be" under the 1956 UGC Act can issue degrees.
State-Wise Breakdown of Fake Universities
This network now covers 12 different states although Delhi is still the prime concern. Its most prominent "Universities" on the Blacklist. The United Nations University, Commercial University Ltd. (Daryaganj) and the Adhyatmik Vishwavidyalaya (Spiritual University) in Rohini were among the 12 identified in Delhi.
In Karnataka, the UGC specifically flagged the Global Human Peace University in Bengaluru. This statement made it apparent that it has no authority to function as a university despite its claims to be registered with international bodies or NITI Aayog. The UGC has encouraged students to verify the accreditation of any institution before applying.
Laws bar graduates from these blacklisted universities from earning:
They have no acceptance for government or private jobs. You can’t use them for higher education participation (like a Master's or Ph.D.). Without legal recourse, students risk losing lots of time and money. “Such institutions can endanger students’ career,” the UGC said in its public notice. Students are advised to go to the official UGC website (ugc.gov.in) to browse the "List of Recognized Universities" prior to making any payments.
