The University Grants Commission (UGC) has issued a fresh public advisory warning students, parents and the general public against enrolling in fake universities operating in Karnataka, Delhi and Maharashtra.
The commission reiterated that degrees awarded by unrecognised institutions are invalid and hold no value for employment, higher education or any official purpose.
In its latest notice, the UGC identified three institutions functioning without statutory approval: National Backward Krushi Vidyapeeth in Solapur, Maharashtra; S. K. Choultary on Devanur Main Road in Vijaya Nagara, Tumkur, Karnataka; and the National Institute of Management Solution (NIMS) in Delhi. These institutions have been added to the UGC’s official list of fake universities.
The commission clarified that none of these entities has the authority to award degrees or diplomas. Students taking admission in such institutions risk wasting valuable years, as the qualifications issued have no academic or legal recognition.Explaining why degrees from these institutions are invalid, the UGC said they are “self-styled” organisations that do not fulfil the requirements of the UGC Act, 1956.
They are neither recognised under Section 2(f) nor declared deemed universities under Section 3 of the Act, and they also lack approval from the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) or any other statutory regulatory body.As a result, any certificate, diploma or degree issued by these institutions is considered invalid and unacceptable to educational institutions, employers and government agencies.
The UGC strongly urged students and parents to verify the status of institutions before seeking admission. In its advisory, the commission warned that enrolling in such unrecognised institutions could seriously jeopardise a student’s academic and career prospects.The UGC noted that the problem of fake universities has been flagged earlier as well.
In the past, it had identified unrecognised institutions such as the Institute of Management and Training in Delhi and the International Islamic University of Prophetic Medicine in Kerala. In October 2025, the commission also released a consolidated list of 22 fake universities operating across various states.
Students have been advised to check the UGC’s official website and refer to its updated lists before taking admission to safeguard their education and future careers.