Lok Sabha Question No. 2082 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-12-02
Subject: Fake Universities
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Venkatesh Netha Borlakunta, Dayakar Pasunoori, Reddeppa Nallakonda Gari, Arun Sao

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2082 TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.12.2019

## Fake Universities

## 2082.  SHRI VENKATESH NETHA BORLAKUNTA: SHRI PASUNOORI DAYAKAR: SHRI N. REDDEPPA:

SHRI ARUN SAO:

Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state :

- (a)  whether University Grants Commission (UGC) has issued a list of fake universities which are self-styled, unrecognized institutions functioning in contravention of the UGC Act, warned students not to be taken in by their claims and most of these institutions have been on the UGCs, watch-list for well over a decade, despite the regulator's AntiMalpractice  Cell  has  been  taking  appropriate  legal  action  against  them  and  if  so,  the details thereof;
- (b)  the  steps  being  taken  by  the  Government  to  close  all  the  unrecognized  colleges which are on the list so far State-wise;
- (c) the steps being taken by the Government to strictly monitor all the colleges to follow the guidelines of UGC in future to protect the interests of the students also;
- (d) whether there are a large number of fake universities that are operating in foreign countries also; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (SHRI RAMESH POKHRIYAL 'NISHANK')

(a)  to  (c):  Yes,  Sir.  On  the  basis  of  complaints  received  from  the  students,  parents, general public and also through electronic print media, University Grants Commission (UGC)  has released the list of 24  fake Universities which  are  offering  Degree programmes without recognition under Section 2(f) and Section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956. In addition, two more Institutions namely Indian Institute of Planning and Management (IIPM), New Delhi and Bhartiya Shiksha Parishad, Lucknow, UP are also not recognized by  the  UGC.  The  details  of  these  fake  Universities  are  available  on  its  website www.ugc.ac.in.

The  Government/UGC  has  taken  the  following  steps  for  closure  of  these Universities so that the students do not fall into the trap of these fake Universities:

- i. The Government / UGC has issued letters to the State/UT Principal Secretaries/Education Secretaries for taking appropriate action against the fake Universities located in their jurisdiction.
- ii. UGC has  issued Show  Cause  /  Warning  Notices  to  fake  Universities  cautioned that  running  of  Undergraduate  and  Postgraduate  degree  courses  and  giving misleading  advertisements  shall  attract  severe  action  under  the  provisions  of appropriate laws including the UGC Act and the Indian Penal Code, etc.
- iii. UGC has lodged FIRs in the respective Police stations against Indian Institute of Planning and Management (IIPM), New Delhi and Bio-Chemic Education Grant Commission, Nadia, West Bengal.

Apart from the above, UGC has taken the following steps to spread awareness among the general public, students & parents from the fake Universities:

- i. UGC has published the list of fake Universities on its website i.e. www.ugc.ac.in.
- ii. At the beginning of every academic session, UGC issues Press Release and Public Notice  regarding  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.
3. (d) & (e): No such complaints have been received by the Government.

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