Universities in Disguise

Remember to check the credential of the University and courses before you enroll.

Not all institutions that spot the name ‘University’ or Vishwavidyalaya’ are what you think. Some of them are fake and issue certificates to students without recognition from the University Grants Commission (UGC)

Hence, it is available to read through the UGC Website http://www.ugc.ac.in and check the credentials of the university. You are taking a chance by joining these universities, as none of them maintain a record of students they have or claim to have. Some even boast pompous names, like ‘United Nations University’ in Delhi, lending them a credence of quality.

In an exercise to prevent students from being cheated, UGC has identified as many as 19 universities or institutions as fake across the country. They are neither recognized under Section 2(f) and 12 (B) of UGC Act 1956 nor a grants sanctioned to them.

“Cases have been filled in various courts by UGC regarding status and conduct of some of these universities or institutions. The staff chief secretaries and district superintendents of police have been requested to get the matter investigated by regarding an appropriate complaint or FIR, and to initiate the prosecution against those who are involved in such acts or defrauding and cheating students by not only misrepresenting themselves as ‘Universities’ but also by awarding degrees and using the word ‘University or Vishwavidyalaya’ with their names,” says UGC notification which was given in the Parliament in a written reply by D Prandeswari, Ministry of State, Human Resource Development.

In addition to the fake universities, students should also be wary of the technical courses offered under distance education mode, as the UGC, All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and the Distance Education Council (DEC), have found out that some universities or institutions deemed to be universities and others are offering technical education programmes in the distance mode without the approval of the statutory councils.

According to the UGC, “A number of degree, diploma courses or programmes in engineering and technology, management, computer applications, architecture and town planning , pharmacy, hotel management and catering Technology, applied arts and crafts, and other have not been approved by the Appropriate Statutory Council for being conducted in the ‘distance mode’.

As all courses or programmes offered in the ‘distance mode’ required the approval of the DEC students should refer website of UGC, AICTE ( http://www.aicte.ernet.in) and DEC ( http://www.dec.ac.in) to verify the list of approved courses or programme of study, before joining any programme in the distance mode.

Fake Universities / Institutions identified by UGC

• Maithili University / Vishwavidyalaya, Darbhanga, Bihar
• Varanaseya Sanskrit Vishwavidyalaya, Varanasi (UP) Jagarpuri
• Commercial University Ltd, Daryaganj, Delhi
• United Nations University, Delhi
• Vocational University, Delhi
• ADR- Centric Juridical University, New Delhi
• Badaganvi Sarkar world Open University Education Society, Gokak, Belgaum
• St. John’s University, Kishanttam, Kerala
• Kesarwani Vidyapith, Jabalpur (MP)
• Raja Arabic University, Nagpur
• DDB Sanskrit University, Putur, Trichi, Tamil Nadu
• Mahila Gram Vidyapith / Vishwavidyalaya (Woman’s University) Prayag, Allahabad
• Indian Education Council at UP, Lucknow
• Gandhi Hindi Vidyapith, Prayag, Allahabad
• National University of Electro Complex Homeopathy, Kanpur
• Netaji Subash Chandra Bose University (Open University) Aligarh
• Uttar Pradesh Vishwavidyalaya, Mathura (UP)
• Maharana Partap Shiksha Niketan Vishwavidyalaya, Pratapgarh (UP)
• Gurukul Vishwavidyalaya, Vrindavan, UP

Universities in Disguise