Warning to Students: A Degree from These Universities Is Worthless!

The search for higher studies is perhaps the most thrilling and tension-filled period of a student’s
life. Going for admission to a leading university is an admirable aim, but it is important that the university be legitimate, which is a non-negotiable step. The warning of the UGC on fake universities is a very important weapon for every would-be director. If you inform yourself and keep your eyes open, you can be sure of the degree to which you strain. It is a stepping stone to a successful future, rather than a dead end.

As you work towards achieving competitive exams such as CUET 2026, your mind would probably be set on getting admitted into your ideal university. However, amidst intense preparation and application mania, a serious risk often goes unnoticed: the presence of unaccredited, “Fake” universities.

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has recently issued an official public warning, blacklisting 25 such colleges in India. To ignore this warning may be to sink years of effort and money into a useless degree, possibly sabotaging your whole career before it even takes off. Here’s what you should know from the UGC’s official warning to make the degree you work for is a key to your future, not a lock on it.

UGC Warning to the Students

The University Grants Commission (UGC) is the major regulatory authority for higher education in
India. When it warns, the whole academic community sees it. The UGC has officially released a list of 25 schools it has deemed “fake” because they are not accredited to operate or award degrees. The most direct result of enrolling in one of these schools is extreme and not up for debate. The UGC’s bottom-line warning is an eye-opener to what is lost:

A degree given by any one of these 25 unaccredited universities is invalid. It won’t be accepted for employment or higher studies, thus making years of study and investment useless.

Where These Fake Universities Are Flourishing

These 25 unauthorised institutions are not concentrated in a single region; they are distributed across states such as Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal. But the mostAn An unexpected discovery on the UGC’s list is the heavy population of such fake universities in the country’s capital.

Most of the blacklisted universities are functioning in Delhi. Being based in the national capital—the epicentre of government as well as regulatory authorities—can provide them with a pseudo-perception of legitimacy. Being located in the national capital—the centre of government and regulatory apparatuses—can lead students into thinking that the institution enjoys unofficial official approval or monitoring. Instances of blacklisted universities based at
Delhi are:

•  All India Institute of Public & Physical Health Sciences
• United Nations University
• Vocational University
• Indian Institute of Science and Engineering

List of Fake Universities in India

The University Grants Commission (UGC) releases the list of all the fake universities in India every year to spread awareness among students on its official portal. Candidates can check the latest UGC fake university list on this page.

The Danger of Official-Sounding Names

One of the most misleading strategies employed by these institutions is their name selection. Most of these imposter universities have names that sound official, founded, and reputable, which makes it challenging for parents and students to identify them as fake at the glance of it.

For instance, names such as “Indian Institute of Alternative Medicines” in West Bengal or “Vishwakarma Open University of Self Employment” in Delhi are specifically created to resemble genuine, specialised institutions.  This is a ploy based on the fallacy that an institution bearing such a formally sounding name must be formally recognised.

In an even more brazen move, some institutions append official-sounding titles directly to their names. The “All India Institute of Public & Physical Health Sciences,” for example, adds “State Government University” to its title, an obvious attempt to deceive applicants into thinking it is government-approved.

Your Defence: Confirm Before You Apply

The UGC not only posted this list publicly but has also instructed state governments to act accordingly against such bogus institutions. While the authorities strive to control the menace, students and their families are ultimately responsible for protecting themselves.

The essence of advice is simple: before deciding whether or not you should seek admission at any of these local or obscure universities, you have to conduct some homework. The most straightforward and empowering manner of doing so is described below.

Go to the official UGC website (ugc.gov.in). There, you will be able to see the “Fake Universities” list as well as the combined list of all the recognised universities. This quick verification is the best single thing you can do to safeguard yourself against getting entangled in a dead-end academic course.

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