UGC declares 22 institutions fake, degrees from these ‘universities’ invalid
New Delhi: The University Grants Commission (UGC) has declared 22 institutions across India as fake universities, warning students that these entities are operating without proper recognition and are not authorised to award degrees under the UGC Act, 1956.
Any qualifications obtained from these institutions, the Commission said, hold no academic or professional validity.
The latest case to come under scrutiny is the Institute of Management and Engineering, located in Kotla Mubarakpur, Delhi. The UGC clarified that the institute is neither established under any Central or State Act nor recognised under Sections 2(f) or 3 of the UGC Act. Consequently, its engineering degrees are invalid.
Delhi tops the list with the highest number of fake universities, according to an updated list released by the Commission in October 2025. These fake universities are:
All India Institute of Public & Physical Health Sciences (AIIPHS)
Commercial University Ltd., Daryaganj
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)
World Peace of United Nations University (WPUNU)
Institute of Management and Engineering, Kotla Mubarakpur.
Uttar Pradesh follows the capital in terms of the number of fake universities. The list includes:
Gandhi Hindi Vidyapith, Prayag
Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose University (Open University), Aligarh
Bhartiya Shiksha Parishad, Lucknow
Mahamaya Technical University, Noida.
Andhra Pradesh:
Christ New Testament Deemed University; Bible Open University of India, Visakhapatnam.
West Bengal:
Indian Institute of Alternative Medicine and Institute of Alternative Medicine and Research, Kolkata.
Maharashtra:
Raja Arabic University, Nagpur.
Puducherry:
Sree Bodhi Academy of Higher Education, Thilaspet.
Additionally, two institutions earlier declared fake in March 2022 remain on the list: Badaganvi Sarkar World Open University Education Society, Belgaum (Karnataka) and St. John’s University, Kishanpattam (Kerala).
Meanwhile, the UGC has approved 101 universities and 20 Category-I institutions to offer Open and Distance Learning (ODL) programmes for the 2025-26 academic year, scheduled to commence in July-August.
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Deep societal faultlines persist despite 75 years of independence: Justice Ujjal Bhuyan
Judge cites denial of home to Muslim girl, opposition to Dalit women cooking mid-day meals
Hyderabad, February 23, 2026: Supreme Court judge Justice Ujjal Bhuyan has said that despite repeated affirmations of constitutional morality by courts, deep societal faultlines rooted in caste and religious discrimination continue to shape everyday realities in India.
Speaking at a seminar on “Constitutional Morality and the Role of District Judiciary” organised by the Telangana Judges Association and the Telangana State Judicial Academy in Hyderabad, Justice Bhuyan reflected on the gap between constitutional ideals and social practices.
He cited a recent instance involving his daughter’s friend, a PhD scholar at a private university in Noida, who was denied accommodation in South Delhi after her surname revealed her Muslim identity. According to Justice Bhuyan, the landlady bluntly informed her that no accommodation was available once her religious background became known.
In another example from Odisha, he referred to resistance by some parents to the government’s mid-day meal programme because the food was prepared by Dalit women employed as cooks. He noted that some parents had objected aggressively and refused to allow their children to consume meals cooked by members of the Scheduled Caste community.
Describing these incidents as “the tip of the iceberg,” Justice Bhuyan said they reveal how far society remains from the benchmark of constitutional morality even 75 years into the Republic. He observed that while the Constitution lays down standards of equality and dignity, the morality practised within homes and communities often diverges sharply from those values.
He emphasised that constitutional morality requires governance through the rule of law rather than the rule of popular opinion. Referring to the evolution of the doctrine through judicial decisions, he cited Naz Foundation v Union of India, in which the Delhi High Court read down Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, holding that popular morality cannot restrict fundamental rights under Article 21. Though the judgment was later overturned in Suresh Kumar Koushal v Naz Foundation, the Supreme Court ultimately restored and expanded the principle in Navtej Singh Johar v Union of India, affirming that constitutional morality must prevail over majoritarian views.
“In our constitutional scheme, it is the constitutionality of the issue before the court that is relevant, not the dominant or popular view,” he said.
Justice Bhuyan also addressed the functioning of the district judiciary, underlining that trial courts are the first point of contact for most litigants and form the foundation of the justice delivery system. He stressed that due importance must be given to the recording of evidence and adjudication of bail matters.
Highlighting the role of High Courts, he said their supervisory jurisdiction under Article 227 of the Constitution is intended as a shield to correct grave jurisdictional errors, not as a mechanism to substitute the discretion or factual appreciation of trial judges.
He recalled that several distinguished judges, including Justice H R Khanna, Justice A M Ahmadi, and Justice Fathima Beevi, began their careers in the district judiciary.
On representation within the judicial system, Justice Bhuyan noted that Telangana has made significant strides in gender inclusion. Out of a sanctioned strength of 655 judicial officers in the Telangana Judicial Service, 478 are currently serving, of whom 283 are women, exceeding 50 per cent representation. He added that members of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, minority communities, and persons with disabilities are also represented in the state’s judiciary.
He observed that greater representation of women, marginalised communities, persons with disabilities, and sexual minorities would help make the judiciary more inclusive and reflective of India’s diversity. “The judiciary must represent all the colours of the rainbow and become a rainbow institution,” he said.
Justice Bhuyan also referred to the recent restoration by the Supreme Court of the requirement of a minimum three years of practice at the Bar for entry-level judicial posts. While acknowledging that the requirement ensures practical exposure, he cautioned that its impact on women aspirants, especially those from rural or small-town backgrounds facing social and financial constraints, would need to be carefully observed over time.
Concluding his address, he reiterated that the justice system must strive to bridge the gap between constitutional ideals and lived realities, ensuring that the rule of law remains paramount.
