For the first time since private universities were granted Centre of Excellence (CoE) status in 2021, the Gujarat Education Department has pulled up four institutions over admission lapses in recent years.
A scrutiny by the technical education department found issues such as excess admissions, missing merit lists, incomplete document verification, and non-payment of per-student registration fees. Following this, the department has asked the Admission Committee for Professional Courses (ACPC) to take strict action against Ahmedabad University (AU), Pandit Deendayal Energy University (PDEU), and Dhirubhai Ambani University (DAU) for irregularities in engineering admissions. Possible lapses in Nirma University’s MBA intake are also being examined.
A departmental letter has directed ACPC to cancel ineligible admissions, collect pending fees, seek affidavits from the universities assuring compliance, and publish accurate final admission lists. Officials added that state quota seats will be increased for the three CoEs for the next three years as compensation for earlier excess intake.
ACPC findings & university responses
Ahmedabad University (AU):ACPC said AU’s merit list was prepared using an “irrational” and undisclosed formula, lacked category-wise seat division, and showed discrepancies between ACPC-allotted and self-admitted students. AU also allegedly skipped the ₹350 per-student registration fee.AU denied all allegations, calling them factually incorrect and saying it followed all norms and provided full information.
Pandit Deendayal Energy University (PDEU):ACPC noted at least 20 students were admitted without valid documents and that PDEU exceeded its intake by around 300 students from 2021–22 to 2024–25, besides not paying registration fees.PDEU refuted the charges, saying all documentation was verified, withdrawals justified variations, and all registration fees were paid as per norms.
Dhirubhai Ambani University (DAU):ACPC flagged 36 admissions without proper eligibility under NRI and management quotas, 32 extra admissions over two years, and unpaid fees.DAU said the NRI-category confusion was resolved in a high-level meeting, excess intake was within withdrawal limits, and all fees have been remitted.
Director of Technical Education B.H. Talati confirmed discrepancies and said preventive measures have been communicated to the CoEs, which have assured corrective steps for future admission cycles.