Lok Sabha Question No. 1184 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-08
Subject: Fake Engineering Degrees
Ministry: EDUCATION
Asked by: Shri Bapi Haldar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1184 ANSWERED ON - 08/12/2025

## Fake Engineering Degrees

1184. Shri Bapi Haldar:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  the  Government  has  taken  cognisance  of  the  fact  that  the  UGC  has  officially notified that many fake universities are offering engineering degrees in the country;

(b)  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  steps  taken  against  such  universities/organisations, State/UT-wise; and

(c) the details of the measures taken Proposes to be taken by the Government to help students who have been a victim of such fake universities?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR)

(a) to (c): Education is in the concurrent list and both the Central Government and the State Governments  work  together  for  development  of  education  in  India.  The  list  of  fake universities, updated from time-to-time, is available on the website of the University Grants Commission  (UGC)  at  https://www.ugc.gov.in/universitydetails/Fakeuniversity.  Currently, 24 Institutions figure in the list.

Maintenance of Law and order is a subject matter of State Governments. Accordingly, the Central Government has requested to Chief Secretaries of all the State Governments and U.T. Administration to take legal action for closure of these institutions and take appropriate action  against  those  involved  in  defrauding  and  cheating  students  by  misrepresenting themselves as "Universities", awarding degrees and using the word "University" with their name. It was also requested to intimate the Central Government /UGC if there are other fake Universities functioning in their States/UTs which are not included in the UGC list of Fake Universities.

Apart  from  issuing  public  Notices  for  general  awareness  through  social  media  and  UGC website  for  cautioning  the  general  public,  students,  parents  and  other  stakeholder,  the following steps have also been taken by the UGC/Government against such fake universities:

- i. The  Government  as  well  as  the  UGC  have  requested  the  Chief  Secretaries  of  all State/UT Governments to take appropriate action against those involved in defrauding
2. and  cheating  students  by  misrepresenting  themselves  as  'Universities',  awarding degrees and using the word 'University' with their name.
- ii. UGC also writes letter to the Principal Secretaries/Secretaries of all the States & UTs to inform all school education boards in their respective States to remain vigilant and to  advise  the  students  to  verify  the  credentials  of  Higher  Education  Institutions through the Official website of UGC before applying for admission.
- iii. The UGC issues Show Causes Notice/Warning Notice/Letter to the respective selfstyled educational institution that is functioning in violation of UGC Regulations and awarding invalid degrees and directs them to stop the illegal activities and submit the compliance report to UGC.
- iv. Writes  letter  to  the  respective  State  Governments  informing  them  about  the  illegal activities  of  the  self-styled  institution  and  request  them  to  take  appropriate  action against it under intimation to UGC.
- v. In spite of the UGC directions, if that self-styled institution does not follow the UGC directions  or  does  not  submit  the  compliance  report  within  the  stipulated  time,  its name  is  included  in  the  UGC  list  of  fake  Universities.  The  updated  list  of  fake universities is also uploaded on the UGC website.
- vi. FIRs have been lodged against several self-styled institutions/universities.
- vii. Show  Causes  Notices/Warning  Notices  have  also  been  issued  to  the  unauthorized institutes awarding invalid degrees.

As a result, 12 fake universities have been closed since 2014.

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