UGC releases list of fake universities, one in AP

Hyderabad: The University Grants Commission (UGC) released a list of 21 unrecognised universities on 26 August. The highest number of fake universities, eight, are in Delhi. One of the 21 universities – Christ New Testament Deemed University – is in Andhra Pradesh's Guntur.

The UGC said 21 self-styled, unrecognised institutions functioning in contravention of the UGC Act have been declared fake and these are not empowered to confer any degree.

The fake universities in Delhi are All India Institute of Public & Physical Health Sciences (AllPPHS), Commercial University, United Nations University, Vocational University, SADR-Centric Juridical University, Indian Institution of Science and Engineering, Viswakarma Open University for Self-employment, and Adhyatmik Vishwavidyalaya (Spiritual University).

There is one fake university each in Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, and Puducherry.

Two fake universities have been reported in Odisha and West Bengal.

Three fake universities have been reported in Uttar Pradesh.

According to the University Grants Commission Act 1956, Section 22 stipulates that the right of conferring or granting degrees shall be exercised only by a university established or incorporated by or under a Central Act, a Provincial Act or a State Act, or an institution deemed to be a university under Section 3 or an institution specially empowered by an Act of Parliament to confer or grant degrees.

Further, Section 23 of the UGC Act prohibits the use of the word "university" by any institution other than a university established as stated above.