NEW DELHI: The apex educational body University Grants Commission (UGC) has declared 24 universities across the country as “self-styled and unrecognised.” According to the data, the highest number of such universities is present in Uttar Pradesh having eight such universities followed by Delhi, which has seven. Odisha and West Bengal are found to have two such fake universities. Karnataka, Kerela, Maharashtra and Puducherry each have one such university.
Rajnish jain, Secretary, UGC, said, “Students and public are informed that currently 24 self-styled, unrecognised institutions are functioning in contravention of the UGC Act, which have been declared as fake universities and these are not empowered to confer any degree.” According to UGC, a university can grant degrees only if the university is established under Central or State Act, or if it is empowered by an Act of Parliament to confer degrees.