The University Grants Commission (UGC) has issued a fresh advisory cautioning students and parents against taking admission in unrecognised or “fake” universities, particularly in Karnataka, Delhi and Maharashtra. The regulator said degrees awarded by such institutions are invalid and can adversely affect students’ careers.

Fake universities are institutions that do not have approval from the UGC and are not recognised under Section 2(f) or Section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956. They are also not approved by statutory bodies such as AICTE and are therefore not authorised to award degrees or diplomas.

In its latest notice, the UGC identified three unrecognised institutions currently operating: National Backward Krushi Vidyapeeth in Solapur, Maharashtra; S. K. Choultary in Tumkur, Karnataka; and the National Institute of Management Solution (NIMS) in Delhi. The commission stated that none of these institutions has university status.

The UGC reiterated that students enrolling in such self-styled institutions risk having qualifications that are not accepted for employment, higher education or official purposes. It urged students and parents to verify the recognition status of institutions before taking admission.

The commission has also published an updated list of fake universities across several states and Union Territories, including Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Puducherry, Karnataka and Kerala. The list includes institutions operating under names suggesting national or international affiliation but lacking legal recognition.

The UGC said it has issued similar warnings in the past and will continue to take action against unrecognised institutions to safeguard students’ interests. Students have been advised to check the official UGC website for the latest list of recognised universities.

Inputs from India Today

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