Question : FAKE UNIVERSITIES AND EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS

(a) whether the number of fake universities and educational institutions are increasing in the country;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether complaints have been received about the increasing number of such universities and higher educational institutions during the last three years and the current year;

(d) if so, the details thereof along with the number of fake Universities and educational institutions identified, State-wise/Union Territory-wise;

(e) the details of the action taken against such universities and educational institutions, State-wise;

(f) whether the Government has taken any strict steps or set up any task force in this regard and if so, the details thereof;

(g) the number of students affected by these educational institutions; and

(h) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to protect and safeguard the interests of the students studying in these Institutions?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT(Dr. SHASHI THAROOR)

(a) & (b): The University Grants Commission (UGC) and the All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE) have reported that both the UGC and the AICTE respectively identify and notify from time to time, the list of fake universities and unapproved institutions in the country. As per the UGC’s notification, the number of fake universities remains 21 while the number of unapproved institutions as per the AICTE’s notification has increased from 127 in March, 2012 to 309 now. The details of these institutions are available on the UGC website: www.ugc.ac.in and AICTE website: www.aicte-india.org.

(c) to (e): The UGC has reported that it has written to all the Chief Secretaries, Home Secretaries and Education Secretaries of all the states to check the menace of fake universities and take necessary action against them. The UGC has also addressed all the Education Secretaries in States and Union Territories to initiate a drive against institutions offering degrees without the approval of the competent authority like the UGC, the AICTE and the Distance Education Council (DEC) in the States/Union Territories. The UGC issues ‘Public Notices’, ‘Press Releases’ and paid advertisements in the press to promote awareness of the general public/students at the beginning of the academic session, cautioning aspiring students not to seek admission in such institutions.

The AICTE has reported that it has also issued letters to the unapproved institutions advising them to close down the operation of unapproved programmes and approach the AICTE for seeking approval through the notified procedure. The State Governments concerned have also been informed to take necessary action against such institutions. The AICTE publishes advertisements in the newspapers from time to time for public awareness.

The Government has introduced the Prohibition of Unfair Practices in Technical Educational Institutions, Medical Educational Institutions and Universities Bill, 2010 in the Parliament for prevention and control of unfair practices.

(f) to (h): The UGC and the AICTE have reported that in the public notices and advertisements issued by them from time to time, all students are advised/cautioned not to pursue higher education courses with such self-styled, unrecognized and unapproved institutions. Anyone dealing with such institutions for pursuing academic studies for degrees, shall be doing so at his/her own risk and responsibility. The details of the number of students studying in these institutions are, therefore, not collected.