The UGC has identified 21 universities/institutions as fake running in various parts of the country, in contravention of the UGC Act, 1956, out of which 8 are in Uttar Pradesh, 6 are in Delhi and 1 each in Bihar, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. Similarly, the AICTE had identified 348 institutions running technical and management courses/programmes in violation of the AICTE Regulation dated 6th January, 2005. Out of these total number of unapproved institutions, 75 each are in Delhi and Maharashtra, 52 in Andhra Pradesh, 34 in West Bengal, 30 in Uttar Pradesh, 26 in Karnataka, 17 in Haryana, 14 in Tamil Nadu, 9 in Chandigarh, 4 in Gujarat, 2 each in Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan and Goa and 1 each in Uttrakhand and Kerala.
The UGC has taken legal action in various courts against 6 of these fake universities. The State Governments have also initiated action against certain fake universities. Show-cause notices have also been served by the UGC to some of the fake universities/institutions and by the AICTE to the unapproved institutions for closure of their programme.
With a view to check the growth of such institutions, wide publicity is given by the UGC and the AICTE every year through print/electronic media as well as on their official websites, cautioning students and parents not to take admission in fake and unapproved institutions. A public 'Appeal' was issued by the Ministry sometime back that students must satisfy themselves that courses offered by institutions are recognized under the relevant laws and are of quality and repute and that in case of any doubt, necessary clarification may be obtained from the relevant statutory bodies, such as the UGC, AICTE. The State/UT Governments have also been advised, from time to time, to issue necessary instructions to the Districts/Police Administration to take immediate action against such institutions.
