With the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) rolling out a new accreditation model in line with NEP-2020, the Gujarat education department has created a dedicated NAAC Cell to help government and grant-in-aid colleges adapt to the changes.
The new system replaces traditional grades with a binary “Accredited” or “Not Accredited” status, followed by a five-level maturity-based rating for institutions that qualify. To ensure colleges don’t fall behind, the NAAC Cell will guide principals and teachers on compiling data, analysing performance, and creating action plans.
State starts early
Pravin Patel, Joint CEO of the Knowledge Consortium of Gujarat (KCG), said the cell was formed so colleges are fully prepared once the NAAC portal opens. “The new process requires detailed statistical data and planning. By starting early, we aim to equip colleges with a clear strategy,” he said.
Accreditation status in Gujarat
Of the 80 government colleges in the state, about 70 already have NAAC accreditation, though 18 of them have crossed the five-year validity mark. Their status remains valid for now, as NAAC has paused new applications until the revised system is operational.Ten newly constructed colleges have also become eligible to apply for their first cycle of accreditation. Training has already begun for the first batch of 10 institutions.
Financial support for colleges
Prof. M.G. Vachani, who oversees NAAC work at KCG, said the state is also supporting grant-in-aid and private colleges by providing ₹6–7 lakh each to cover registration fees and preparation expenses for NAAC visits.