NAAC to launch AI-driven, peer-free accreditation system from August
New Delhi: In a major overhaul the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) will introduce a new AI-powered accreditation system for higher education institutions across India starting August. "This is our uniquely developed method for validating data through stakeholder feedback. We follow a principle of trusting but verifying," NAAC Chairman Professor Anil Sahasrabudhe informed in a report published by NDTV.
Replacing its 30-year-old framework, the new system eliminates traditional peer visits for basic accreditation and introduces a binary result, institutions will either be ‘Accredited’ or ‘Not Accredited’. It is designed to streamline assessments using document-based verification, AI-generated stakeholder reviews and credibility scores.
Only institutions meeting the minimum eligibility criteria, 50% for universities, 45% for autonomous colleges and 40% for affiliated colleges, will be accredited. Physical peer visits will return only at advanced maturity levels (Levels 3 to 5) and even then, partially.
Currently, only 40% of Indian universities and 18% of colleges are accredited and this change aims to push this number beyond 90% within five years.
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MediaOne TV Facebook page restored after block linked to ‘government request’
Kochi: The official Facebook page of Malayalam news channel MediaOne TV has been restored after being blocked without prior notice, the broadcaster said on Wednesday.
The channel was quoted by Maktoob as saying that the restriction was lifted automatically, with Meta Platforms informing it that the action had been taken following a “government request” which has now expired or been reversed.
The development came shortly after the channel approached the Kerala High Court challenging the blocking of its page, terming it arbitrary and in violation of legal provisions and judicial precedents. The High Court had issued notice to Meta via email hours before the restriction was withdrawn.
In its petition, the channel said access to its Facebook page had been restricted for users in India without citing any specific content or alleged violation. It contended that while individual posts may be taken down under applicable a rule, blocking an entire page goes beyond the scope of such measures.
The incident followed an earlier action taken against the channel in 2022, when the Ministry of Information and transmitting prohibited it from transmitting. It cited national security concerns regarding the Ministry of Home Affairs' refusal of security clearance.
The Supreme Court of India in April 2023 set aside the ban, observing that national security claims cannot be made without substantive basis and that criticism of government policies does not render a media outlet anti-national.
