UGC flags 32 fake universities across India, Delhi tops the list

The University Grants Commission has identified 32 fake universities across 12 states and warned students not to take admission in them. With Delhi reporting the highest number and new states added to the list, the UGC has urged parents and students to verify institutions before applying.

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has identified 32 fake universities operating across 12 states in the country, raising fresh concerns about student safety and the credibility of higher education. The latest data shows that the number of such institutions has increased from 20 to 32 in the last two years, indicating the growing reach of unauthorised universities.

The UGC has advised students and parents to remain cautious and avoid taking admission in these institutions, which are not recognised under the UGC Act and do not have the authority to award valid degrees.

New states added to the list include Haryana, Rajasthan, Jharkhand and Arunachal Pradesh, each reporting one fake university. The commission also issued a specific alert about an institute operating in Bengaluru under the name Global Human Peace University, warning that it is not authorised to function as a university.

Delhi has the highest number of fake universities, with 12 such institutions operating in the national capital. These include names such as the All India Institute of Public and Physical Health Sciences, Commercial University Limited, United Nations University, Vishwakarma Open University for Self-Employment and the Institute of Management and Engineering.

Some of these institutions are located close to regulatory offices, raising questions about monitoring and enforcement.

Other states where fake universities have been detected include Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Puducherry, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.