States need to act against ‘Fake Universities’, Education Ministry tells Parliament

Self-styled institutions, fake Universities are not entitled to award degrees.

Education Ministry while responding to a question in Rajya Sabha on fake universities operating in the country has informed that the University Grants Commission (UGC) writes a letter to state chief secretaries and education secretaries to take action against fake universities/institutes located in their jurisdiction.

As per UGC, there are 21 fake universities operating in India with with eight in Delhi; rest in Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, West Bengal, UP, Odisha, Puducherry and Andhra Pradesh.

Responding to a question on the future of students enrolled in fake Universities released by UGC, Dr Subhas Sarkar stated that at the beginning of every academic session, UGC issues a press release and Public Notice regarding a State-wise list of fake Universities in the country in national dailies and newspapers in Hindi and English to warn the aspiring students, guardians and the public at large not to take admission in the courses run by the self-styled, unauthorized fake Universities/Institutions of higher education functioning in different parts of the country.

He added that in addition to this, UGC writes a letter to State Chief Secretaries, Education Secretaries and Principal Secretaries to take action against fake universities/institutes located in their jurisdiction.

“Self-styled institutions /fake Universities are not entitled to award degrees. Also, degrees awarded by these institutions are invalid for higher education/ employment,” states a statement from the Education Ministry on alternative plans of the Government to compensate those students who studied at these universities.

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