CollegesRead this list with care
- It is the UGC's list, copied as it stands on ugc.gov.in on 11 November 2026. The UGC adds and removes names; the live list is on its website.
- Names can look very like those of real universities. Match the full name and the address, not just one word.
- An institution that is not on this list is not automatically genuine. The real test is whether it is on the UGC list of universities.
How to protect yourself
- Search for the university in our finder or on ugc.gov.in.
- If it is a college, find out which university it is affiliated to and check that university.
- For a professional course, check the approval of the body for that field. See how to check a college.
- Be careful with offers of a degree in a few months, without classes, or "through distance" from an unknown name.
Questions people ask
What is a fake university?
The UGC uses the term for a self-styled institution that calls itself a university or gives degrees without being set up under a Central or State Act or being declared a deemed university. Such an institution has no right to award degrees.
Is a degree from a fake university valid?
No. It is not recognised for jobs or for higher studies.
How many fake universities are on the UGC list?
32, in 12 states and union territories, as on 11 November 2026.
What should I do if I find one?
Do not pay any fee. You can inform the UGC through the contact details on ugc.gov.in. If you have already paid, keep all receipts and seek advice on a complaint to the police or the consumer forum.
Source and date. The lists are those published on the website of the University Grants Commission (ugc.gov.in), read on 11 November 2026. A university can be added, renamed or removed at any time. Before you take admission or pay a fee, check the institution yourself on ugc.gov.in. This is not a government site.