Question : Malpractices in awarding Degrees

(a) whether the Government is aware that mushrooming of private universities has been observed in various States and far flung areas in the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government is aware that large scale malpractices have been reported in awarding the degrees, etc. without imparting the requisite education upto the required standards earmarked for the studies in the relevant subjects;
(d) if so, the details thereof;
(e) the steps are being taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to ensure the adherence to the prescribed regulations; and
(f) whether the Government is aware of any fake degree syndicate operating in the country and if so, the details thereof including the action taken by the Government in this regard?

MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
(SMT. SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

(a) & (b): At present, 237 Private Universities have been established in the country through State Legislation. In addition, 123 Institutions have been declared as Deemed to be University, out of which 88 Institutions are privately managed. The State-Wise/UT-Wise break up of these Universities is as under:
<pre>
Sl No. Name of State No. of Private Universities No. of Deemed to be Universities No. of privately managed Deemed to be Universities
1. Andhra Pradesh ------- 5 4
2. Arunachal Pradesh 7 1 ------
3. Assam 4 ------ ------
4. Bihar ------ 1 ------
5. Chandigarh ------ 1 ------
6. Chhattisgarh 8 ------ ------
7. Delhi ------ 10 2
8. Gujarat 24 2 2
9. Haryana 19 6 3
10. Himachal Pradesh 17 ------ ------
11. Jammu & Kashmir ------ 1 ------
12. Jharkhand 3 2 1
13. Karnataka 12 14 12
14. Kerala ------ 2 ------
15. Madhya Pradesh 20 1 ------
16. Maharashtra 5 21 14
17. Manipur 1 ------ ------
18. Meghalaya 8 ------ ------
19. Mizoram 1 ------ ------
20. Nagaland 2 ------ ------
21. Odisha 3 2 2
22. Punjab 13 2 1
23. Pondicherry ------ 1 1
24. Rajasthan 41 8 8
25. Sikkim 5 ------ ------
26. Tamil Nadu ------ 28 27
27. Telangana ------ 2 2
28. Tripura 1 ------ ------
29. Uttar Pradesh 24 9 6
30. Uttarakhand 11 3 2
31. West Bengal 8 1 1
Total 237 123 88
</pre>
(c) & (d): No, Madam. No large scale malpractices have been reported with respect to awarding of degrees without imparting requisite education. However, a few instances of such malpractices have been reported where following requisite action has been taken by UGC against the universities.

i. The University Grants Commission (UGC) after conducting inspection of CMJ University, Meghalaya, submitted its report to Meghalaya Government. The State Government of Meghalaya decided to dissolve the University.
ii. UGC team visited Eastern Institute for Integrated Learning in Management University (EIILM) University and recommended dissolution of the University. The state cabinet decided to dissolve the University.

(e): Private Universities are regulated by the UGC (Establishment of and Maintenance of Standards in Private Universities) Regulations, 2003. UGC is empowered to inspect the Private Universities with the help of Expert Committees. These Committees visit Universities to ascertain fulfilment of criteria by these Universities in terms of programmes, faculty, infrastructural facilities, financial viability, etc. These Universities are asked to rectify the deficiencies pointed out by UGC Expert Committees and submit compliance report.

Similarly, Deemed to be Universities are also inspected as per UGC (Institutions Deemed to be Universities) Regulations, 2010 as amended from time to time in which there is a provision for inspection. After inspection, the deficiencies and suggestions if any are communicated to the institution for rectification and submission of compliance report.

(f): No such information is available with UGC.
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