University Grants Commission (UGC) has declared 24 universities as fake. Based on the complaints received from parents, students, general public and even from the electronic print media, UGC declared these “self-styled” institutes as fake universities. Apart from these, 2 other universities have been found violating norms.

Bhartiya Shiksha Parishad, Lucknow, UP and Indian Institute of Planning and Management (IIPM), Qutub Enclave, New Delhi have also been found functioning in violation of the UGC Act, 1956. Uttar Pradesh has the highest number of fake universities. There are 8 universities in Uttar Pradesh that have been declared fake.

(The UGC issues public notices about the list of fake universities/institutes in national Hindi and English newspapers. The commission writes letters to state chief secretaries, Education secretaries and principal secretaries to take action against such universities located in their jurisdiction. Show cause and warning notices are issued to the unauthorized institutes awarding invalid degrees when any self-styled institution is found or noticed functioning in violation of the UGC Act, 1956.)

Names of fake universities:

UTTAR PRADESH (8)

Varanaseya Sanskrit Vishwavidyalaya, Varanasi; Mahila Gram Vidyapith, Allahabad; Gandhi Hindi Vidyapith, Allahabad; National University of Electro Complex Homeopathy, Kanpur; Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Open University, Aligarh;  Uttar Pradesh Vishwavidyalaya, Mathura; Maharana Pratap Shiksha Niketan Vishwavidyalaya, Pratapgarh and Indraprastha Shiksha Parishad, Noida.

DELHI (7)

Commercial University Ltd, United Nations University, Vocational University, ADR Centric Juridicial University, Indian Institution of Science and Engineering, Vishwakarma Open University for Self Employment and Adhyatmik Vishwavidyalaya (Spiritual University).

ODISHA & WEST BENGAL (2 each)

 Indian Institute of Alternative Medicine and Institute of Alternative Medicine and Research in Kolkata and Nababharat Shiksha Parishad in Rourkela and North Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology in Mayurbhanj.

1 each in KARNATAKA, KERALA, MAHARASHTRA, PUDUCHERRY AND MAHARASHTRA

Sree Bodhi Academy of Higher Education, Puducherry; Christ New Testament Deemed University, Andhra Pradesh; Raja Arabic University, Nagpur; St John's University, Kerala and Badaganvi Sarkar World Open University Education Society, Karnataka.

Details of fake universities are also available on UGC website.