UGC updates: 32 fake universities identified across India — see state-wise details

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has named 32 institutions operating without legal authority to award degrees. It has warned that qualifications issued by them carry no value for jobs, higher studies or government services.

The regulator says these bodies are not recognised by the Central or any State Government under the UGC Act, 1956. Yet they continue to function across 12 states — with Delhi alone accounting for 12.

Students have been urged to check the official list of recognised universities before applying.

Delhi tops the list as numbers rise

Delhi records the highest concentration, with 12 institutions declared fake. Uttar Pradesh follows with four. Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Puducherry and West Bengal each have two. Arunachal Pradesh, Haryana, Jharkhand and Rajasthan report one each.

The increase is sharp. In March 2023, the UGC listed 20 fake institutions. By October 2025, the number rose to 22. Now it stands at 32. That is a jump of 12 in nearly three years. Delhi led the list in each round — with eight in 2023, 10 in 2025 and 12 in 2026.

New states added this time include Haryana, Rajasthan, Jharkhand and Arunachal Pradesh.

The UGC has also flagged a specific alert in Bengaluru over an entity calling itself Global Human Peace University, stating it is not authorised to function as a university.

State-wise list of fake universities (February 2026)

Andhra Pradesh (2)

Christ New Testament Deemed University, Guntur

Bible Open University of India, Visakhapatnam

Arunachal Pradesh (1)

Indian Institute of Alternative Medicine

Delhi (12)

World Peace of United Nations University (Pitampura)

Institute of Management and Engineering (Mubarakpur)

All India Institute of Public & Physical Health Sciences State Government University (Alipur)

Commercial University (Daryaganj)

United Nations University

Vocational University

ADR Centric Juridical University (Rajendra Place)

Indian Institute of Science and Engineering, New Delhi

Viswakarma Open University for Self-Employment (Sanjay Enclave)

Adhyatmik Vishwavidyalaya (Rohini)

National Institute of Management Solution (Janakpuri)

Mountain Institute of Management and Technology (Nehru Place)

Haryana (1)

Magic & Art University, Faridabad

Jharkhand (1)

Daksha University (Vocational and Life Skill Education), Ranchi

Karnataka (2)

Sarva Bharatiya Shiksha Peeth, Tumkur

Global Human Peace University, Bengaluru

Kerala (2)

International Islamic University of Prophetic Medicine (IIUPM), Kozhikode

St John’s University

Maharashtra (2)

Raja Arabic University, Nagpur

National Backward Krushi Vidyapeeth, Solapur

Puducherry (2)

Usha Latchumanan College of Education

Sree Bodhi Academy of Higher Education

Rajasthan (1)

Rajeev Gandhi Institute of Technology & Management, Bhiwadi

Uttar Pradesh (4)

Gandhi Hindi Vidyapith, Prayagraj

Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose University (Open University), Aligarh

Bhartiya Shiksha Parishad, Lucknow

Mahamaya Technical University, Noida

West Bengal (2)

Indian Institute of Alternative Medicine, Kolkata

Institute of Alternative Medicine and Research, Kolkata

What the data shows — and why it matters

The spread is wider than before. More states are now on the list. The total count has climbed steadily since 2023.

The UGC says these institutions mislead students by offering degrees without approval. Some present themselves as foreign universities or claim international links. Others operate close to regulatory offices.

The commission regularly publishes the list to alert the public. With admissions season approaching, it has again asked students and parents to verify recognition status before enrolling.

Degrees from these institutions, it reiterates, are not legally valid.