The University Grants Commission (UGC) has recently unveiled a state-wise list of fake universities as of September 2023. In its notification, the UGC has called upon the state governments’ Departments of Higher Education and principal secretaries to take “appropriate action” against these unrecognised institutions operating within their respective states.

Key Highlights:

1. Delhi Leads with 8 Fake Universities: Among the 20 universities flagged as non-recognised, Delhi tops the list with 8 fake universities. Uttar Pradesh follows closely with 4 such institutions. In total, 8 states in India have universities operating in violation of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956. Additionally, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal each have two fake universities.
2. UGC Act 1956: According to the UGC Act 1956, the authority to confer or grant degrees is reserved exclusively for universities established or incorporated under Central Acts, Provincial Acts, State Acts, institutions deemed as universities under section 3, or institutions specifically empowered by an Act of Parliament to grant degrees.

Andhra Pradesh:

1. Christ New Testament Deemed University, Guntur.
2. Bible Open University of India, Visakhapatnam.

Delhi:

1. All India Institute of Public & Physical Health Sciences (AIIPHS) State Government University, Alipur.
2. Commercial University Ltd., Daryaganj.
3. United Nations University, Delhi.
4. Vocational University, Delhi.
5. ADR-Centric Juridical University, Rajendra Place.
6. Indian Institute of Science and Engineering, New Delhi.
7. Viswakarma Open University for Self-Employment, Sanjay Enclave.
8. Adhyatmik Vishwavidyalaya (Spiritual University), Rohini.

Uttar Pradesh:

1. Gandhi Hindi Vidyapith, Prayag, Allahabad.
2. National University of Electro Complex Homeopathy, Kanpur.
3. Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose University (Open University), Aligarh.
4. Bhartiya Shiksha Parishad, Lucknow.

West Bengal:

1. Indian Institute of Alternative Medicine, Kolkata.
2. Institute of Alternative Medicine and Research, Kolkata.

Puducherry:

1. Sree Bodhi Academy of Higher Education, Puducherry.

Maharashtra:

1. Raja Arabic University, Nagpur.

Kerala:

1. St John’s University, Kishanattam.

Karnataka:

1. Badaganvi Sarkar World Open University Education Society, Belgaum.

The UGC’s notification serves as a reminder of the importance of verifying the recognition status of educational institutions before seeking admission or pursuing degrees to avoid falling victim to fraudulent universities.