22 fake universities functioning in country: Smriti Irani

New Delhi, May 5

As many as 22 fake universities are functioning in the country, with a maximum of nine in Uttar Pradesh and five in Delhi, government told the Rajya Sabha, adding states have been asked to initiate action against these.

HRD Minister Smriti Irani also said that the Ministry is in the process of writing to Ministry of External Affairs to seek a list of all fake varsities and institutions abroad so that students do not get trapped and duped.

“As per information available with the UGC, there are 22 universities (in the country) which have been listed in the UGC list of fake universities and are functioning in contravention or violation of the UGC Act, 1956, in different parts of the country,” Irani said.

Besides UP and Delhi, there are two in West Bengal and one each in Bihar, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Odisha, she said.

Replying to questions, she brushed aside charges that the Centre was washing its hands off in taking action against such varsities, saying the government had fulfilled its duties in informing the state governments for action against the concerned.

“Law and order is a state issue and only states can take action as per federal structure. No state government has so far said it is not taking action against such universities and have instead shown inclination of taking action,” she said.

Irani said the regulator on its part has started a portal “KnowYourCollege” and a mobileApp providing details about universities and colleges so that students are not duped by such fake institutions. There is also an inbuilt mechanism for redressal in this portal.

She said if complaints come to the regulator, then the UGC also acts against such complaints.

“It is an endeavour to persistently act on injustices meted out to our students through such fake institutions through protection given by the regulator,” she said, asking members to share information on fake institutions with UGC.

Irani said there are universities abroad which try to mislead Indian students and “We are in the process of writing to MEA to ensure that all missions are appealed to give us a list of fake universities or institutions overseas so that we can appropriately inform our states to help students not get duped by such institutions.”

To a question on foreign tie-ups and off-campus centres, she said, “Many universities have tried to set up off-campus centres which are unauthorised and UGC has taken cognisance of this fact and ordered shutdown of illegal off-campus centres.”    

In the written reply, Irani said varsities listed by UGC as ‘Fake Universities’ include five in Delhi — United Nations University, Commercial University Ltd, Daryaganj, Vocational University, ADR-Centric juridical University, ADR House, Rajendra Place, Indian Institute of Science and Engineering.

Among other such universities are Maithili University/Vishwavidyalaya, Darbhanga, Bihar, Badaganvi sarkar World Open University Education Society, Gokak, Belgaum, Karnataka, St John’s University, Kishanattam, Kerala, Raja Arabic University, Nagpur, Maharashtra, DDB Sanskrit University, Putur, Trichi, Tamil Nadu and Indian Institute of Alternative Medicine, Kolkata, besides Indian Institute of Alternative Medicine and Research, Diamond Harbour Road, Buildtech Inn, Thakurpukur, Kolkata.

In Uttar Pradesh, there are nine such varsities - Varanaseya Sanskrit Vishwavidyalaya, Varanasi (UP) Jagatpuri, Delhi, Mahila Gram Vidyapith (Prayag), Allahabad, Gandhi Hindi Vidyapith, Prayag, Allahabad, National University of Electro Complex Homoeopathy, Kanpur, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose University, Achaltal, Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh Vishwavidyalaya, Kosi Kalan, Mathura, Maharana Pratap Shiksha Niketan Vishwavidyalaya, Pratapgarh, Indraprastha Shiksha Parishad, Institutional area, Khoda, Makanpur, Noida, Phase II and Gurukul Vishwavidyalya, Vrindavan.

Besides, the Nababharat Shiksha Parishad, Annapoorna Bhawan, Shaktinagar, Rourkela in Odisha is also among such fake universities as listed by the Minister. — PTI