The University Grants Commission (UGC) has named and shamed 54 state private universities for failing to comply with mandatory public disclosure requirements, in what marks one of its sharpest warnings yet to higher education institutions.

According to officials, the universities were flagged under Section 13 of the UGC Act, 1956, for not furnishing key institutional details for inspection and for withholding crucial information from their websites. 

The regulator said it had issued multiple reminders, emails, and even convened online meetings urging compliance — but several institutions continued to ignore the directives.

Universities were instructed to upload the prescribed formats and appendices on their websites, linked clearly on the home page for easy access by students and the public.

They were also asked to submit registrar-signed proof documents. These steps were repeatedly communicated, yet many institutions failed to act,” UGC Secretary Manish Joshi said.

As per UGC guidelines, every higher education institution must maintain a functional website, enabling transparent self-disclosure. 

This includes open access to institutional information on the homepage, a built-in search facility, and no login barriers.

Madhya Pradesh accounted for the highest number of defaulters with 10 universities, followed by Gujarat (8), Sikkim (5), and Uttarakhand (4). 

The UGC has circulated the full list of non-compliant institutions and warned them of immediate corrective measures, hinting at stronger action for repeat violations.

The crackdown comes amid tighter regulatory scrutiny of private universities. Just in July, the UGC had pulled up 23 institutions for failing to appoint ombudspersons, signalling a sustained push for accountability in the sector.