India’s higher education regulator, the University Grants Commission (UGC), has declared a Rajasthan-based institute “fake” and unauthorised to award degrees, renewing its warning to students and parents against enrolling in unrecognised institutions.

In its latest notification, the UGC identified the Rajeev Gandhi Institute of Technology and Management, located in Bhiwadi in Alwar district, as operating outside the framework of recognised universities under the UGC Act, 1956.

The Commission clarified that the institute has no authority to confer degrees, and any qualifications issued by it will be deemed invalid for higher education, employment, or government jobs.

Crackdown on misleading institutes

The move is part of the UGC’s ongoing drive to curb the spread of unrecognised and “self-styled” institutions that mislead aspirants. The regulator has repeatedly cautioned that enrolling in such institutes can have serious academic and career consequences.

Repeat offender under scrutiny

This is not the first time the institute has been flagged. It had earlier appeared in the UGC’s list of fake universities released in 2026, with the latest notification reinforcing the regulator’s position and reiterating its public warning.

nationwide list of fake universities

The UGC has also released a state-wise list of unrecognised institutions across the country. These include entities in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, and West Bengal, among others.

Notable examples include:

• Uttar Pradesh-based “self-styled” institutions such as Gandhi Hindi Vidyapith
• Maharashtra’s Raja Arabic University in Nagpur
• Andhra Pradesh’s Bible Open University of India
• West Bengal’s Indian Institute of Alternative Medicine

Institutions in Haryana, Jharkhand, Arunachal Pradesh, and Puducherry have also been flagged.

Degrees hold no legal value

Reiterating its stance, the UGC said degrees awarded by such unauthorised institutions carry no legal validity and are not recognised for government employment, higher studies, or any official purpose.

Stricter enforcement underway

Authorities have stepped up action against fake universities through FIRs, show-cause notices, and regulatory crackdowns on violators.

The UGC has advised students to verify the credentials of institutions through its official website before applying, to avoid falling prey to fraudulent setups that can jeopardise their academic and professional future.