Two ‘Self-Styled’ Odisha Universities Among 24 Fake Institutes: Dharmendra

Bhubaneswar/New Delhi: Two universities of Odisha are among 24 in the country to have been declared as ‘fake’ by the University Grants Commission (UGC), Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan informed.

“Based on the complaints received from students, parents, general public and also through electronic print media, UGC has declared 24 self-styled institutes as fake universities,” he said in response to a written question on Monday.

“Besides, two more institutes — Bhartiya Shiksha Parishad, Lucknow, UP, and Indian Institute of Planning and Management (IIPM), Qutub Enclave, New Delhi, are also found functioning in violation of the UGC Act, 1956. The matters of Bhartiya Shiksha Parishad, Lucknow, and IIPM, New Delhi, are sub-judice,” he added.

Uttar Pradesh has the highest eight fake universities, followed by seven in Delhi and two each in Odisha and West Bengal.

Nababharat Shiksha Parishad, Rourkela, and North Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology in Baripada have been declared as fake institutes.

Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Puducherry and Maharashtra have one fake university each.

The UGC had declared these institutes as fake in October last year.

Also Read: 2 Odisha Universities, In Rourkela And Baripada, Among 24 Declared ‘Fake’ By UGC

Elaborating on the steps taking by the UGC against the fake or non-recognised universities, Dharmendra said that public notices are issued about the list of fake universities/institutes in national Hindi and English newspapers.

“The commission writes letters to state chief secretaries, Education secretaries and principal secretaries to take action against such universities located in their jurisdiction. Show cause and warning notices are issued to the unauthorized institutes awarding invalid degrees when any self-styled institution is found or noticed functioning in violation of the UGC Act, 1956,” he added.

(With inputs from PTI)