SRINAGAR: The University Grants Commission (UGC) has identified 32 institutions as fake universities in its latest list published in February 2026, with Delhi accounting for 12 of the institutions, the highest number among all states and Union Territories.
The development was disclosed in the Rajya Sabha by Minister of State for Education Sukanta Majumdar in a written reply. The Centre has asked state and Union Territory administrations to initiate legal proceedings against institutions operating as self-styled universities in violation of the UGC Act, 1956.
The UGC regularly publishes details of institutions found to be functioning as fake universities. Along with identifying such institutions, the commission has issued clarification and compliance letters, show-cause notices and warnings to them. It has also issued public notices cautioning students and the public against enrolling in such institutions.
The commission has approached the Chief Secretaries, Education Secretaries and Principal Secretaries of the concerned states and Union Territories, asking them to take appropriate action against the institutions and register FIRs wherever they are found to be operating in violation of the law.
The Centre has also asked the Chief Secretaries of all states and Union Territory administrations to take steps for closure of the identified institutions and initiate action against persons or entities allegedly misleading students by presenting themselves as universities, awarding degrees or using the word “University” in their names.
State and UT authorities have further been asked to inform the Centre and the UGC about any other institutions operating as fake universities in their respective jurisdictions but not included in the commission’s list.
The 32 institutions identified by the UGC are spread across 12 states and Union Territories. Delhi has the highest number with 12, followed by Uttar Pradesh with four. Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Puducherry and West Bengal have two institutions each, while Arunachal Pradesh, Haryana, Jharkhand and Rajasthan have one each.
In Andhra Pradesh, the list includes Christ New Testament Deemed University in Guntur and Bible Open University of India in Visakhapatnam.
Arunachal Pradesh has one institution on the list — Indian Institute of Alternative Medicine.
The 12 institutions listed in Delhi are World Peace of United Nations University (WPUNU), Institute of Management and Engineering, All India Institute of Public and Physical Health Sciences (AIIPHS) State Government University, Commercial University Ltd, United Nations University, Vocational University, ADR-Centric Juridical University, Indian Institute of Science and Engineering, Viswakarma Open University for Self-Employment, Adhyatmik Vishwavidyalaya (Spiritual University), National Institute of Management Solution and Mountain Institute of Management and Technology.
In Haryana, Magican and Art University, Faridabad, has been included, while Daksha University (Vocational and Life Skill Education), Ranchi, figures in the Jharkhand list.
Karnataka has two institutions — Sarva Bharatiya Shiksha Peeth, Tumkur, and Global Human Peace University, Bengaluru.
The two institutions listed from Kerala are International Islamic University of Prophetic Medicine (IIUPM), Kozhikode, and St John’s University.
In Maharashtra, the UGC has listed Raja Arabic University, Nagpur, and National Backward Krushi Vidyapeeth, Solapur.
Puducherry has Usha Latchumanan College of Education and Sree Bodhi Academy of Higher Education on the list, while Rajeev Gandhi Institute of Technology and Management, Bhiwadi, has been identified in Rajasthan.
The four institutions listed from Uttar Pradesh are Gandhi Hindi Vidyapith, Prayagraj; Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose University (Open University), Aligarh; Bhartiya Shiksha Parishad, Lucknow; and Mahamaya Technical University, Noida.
In West Bengal, the institutions identified are Indian Institute of Alternative Medicine, Kolkata, and Institute of Alternative Medicine and Research, Kolkata.
Majumdar said education is on the Concurrent List, making both the Central and state governments responsible for working towards the development of education in the country.
The UGC has also advised students and parents to verify the recognition and authenticity of higher educational institutions before taking admission.
