UGC recognition status of a college or university — RTI to UGC

Sunita lives in a tier-2 town in western Uttar Pradesh. Her son Ankit has just finished Class 12 and dreams of studying B.Tech. Every newspaper in the district carries a glossy half-page advertisement for “XYZ International University, Delhi/NCR” promising a B.Tech in one year through distance mode, with no entrance test, for a first-semester fee of Rs.62,000. A local admission agent has already collected Rs.5,000 as a “registration advance” and is pressing the family to pay the rest before the seats fill.

Sunita is uneasy. The institution is not listed on the website of any affiliating university she has heard of. Its brochure never mentions a UGC section number. A neighbour whispers that degrees from such places are sometimes worthless and that employers reject them during background verification. Sunita does not want to lose Rs.62,000 and watch her son hold a degree that no government office or bank will accept.

What she needs is not hearsay but the official record — the one document that settles whether this institution can legally award a degree in India. That record sits with the University Grants Commission. The Right to Information Act, 2005 lets Sunita demand it in writing, for Rs.10, within 30 days. This guide shows you exactly how, using only verified facts about UGC recognition as it stands today.

The University Grants Commission (UGC) is a statutory body set up under the University Grants Commission Act, 1956. It functions under the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, Government of India. One common confusion first: the parent ministry was renamed from “MHRD” to the Ministry of Education in 2020, and the UGC website is now ugc.gov.in (the older ugc.ac.in address redirects to it). When you file RTI, address it to UGC under the Ministry of Education — not to “MHRD”, which is an outdated name.

Three sections of the UGC Act 1956 decide whether an institution can lawfully award a degree:

1. Section 2(f) defines a “University” as an institution established or incorporated by a Central, Provincial or State Act, or an institution specially recognised by the UGC for this purpose. A college that is merely affiliated to a State Act university is not automatically a “university” itself, but it can be brought under UGC's purview for funding and standards.
2. Section 12(B) lists institutions that are declared fit to receive UGC and Central Government financial assistance. A college has to be included under 2(f) first and then declared eligible under 12(B) to draw Central plan grants. Many legitimate State-affiliated colleges are 2(f) but not yet 12(B).
3. Section 22 reserves the word “university” and the power to confer degrees: only a “University” as defined can grant degrees, and UGC specifies which degrees are recognised. An institution that is not a section 2(f) university cannot legally award a degree under section 22.
4. Section 3 allows the Central Government, on the UGC's recommendation, to declare an institution “deemed to be university”. Such an institution enjoys university status for degree-granting purposes even though it was not set up by a State or Central Act.

The practical chain is simple but often misunderstood: 2(f) recognition is about standards and eligibility; 12(B) is about Central funding; section 3 is the separate “deemed” route; and section 22 is what makes a degree legally valid. A college can be affiliated to a State university and still not appear in the UGC 2(f) directory — that is not automatically illegal, but its degrees flow from the affiliating university, not from UGC recognition of the college itself. A “university” that is neither a section 2(f) university nor a section 3 deemed university, and that is not established by any Act, is almost certainly on, or heading towards, the UGC fake-universities list.

To ask a sharp question, you need to know how recognition is granted and how it is taken away.

Colleges under 2(f) and 12(B): UGC maintains an online 2(f)/12(B) college directory at ugc.gov.in/colleges/recog_College_other where citizens can search by college name or state before filing any RTI. A college that appears here is recognised for standards and Central-funding eligibility. A college that does not appear may still be a valid State-affiliated college — but it cannot claim UGC recognition, and any advertisement that says “UGC recognised” for such a college is misleading.

Deemed universities under section 3: These are governed by the UGC (Institutions Deemed to be Universities) Regulations, 2016 (notified 11 July 2016, F.No. 1-3/2016(CPPPI/DU)), made under section 26(1)(f) and (g) of the UGC Act. Regulation 22.2 sets out the consequences of violation: the UGC may direct that no new admissions be made, that intake be reduced, or it may advise the Central Government to withdraw the deemed-to-be-university status — for one session on a first violation, up to five sessions for repeated violations, and permanently for a serious and deliberate violation. This is the live legal basis on which a deemed tag can be pulled.

Fake universities: UGC maintains a state-wise list of institutions that are not universities at all but are using the word “university” in violation of section 22. As of the February 2026 list, 32 fake universities operate across 12 states and UTs — Delhi 12, Uttar Pradesh 4, Andhra Pradesh 2, West Bengal 2, Karnataka 2, Kerala 2, Maharashtra 2, Puducherry 2, and one each in Arunachal Pradesh, Haryana, Jharkhand and Rajasthan. Degrees from these institutions are void and cannot be used for any job or further study. The official page is ugc.gov.in/universitydetails/Fakeuniversity.

The National Academic Depository (NAD): Since 2017, every UGC-recognised university and institution is required to register every awarded degree on the National Academic Depository, now operated through DigiLocker at nad.digilocker.gov.in. A genuine degree from a genuine, recognised institution should be traceable there. A degree that cannot be found on NAD is a serious red flag and a strong reason to file an RTI.

Two things have changed in the recognition landscape that directly affect your RTI questions.

First, the fake-universities list was updated in February 2026 to 32 entries across 12 states, up from earlier counts. If you are verifying an institution in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh or any of the states listed above, you must check the current list, not an old cached copy. The official PDF is hosted directly by UGC at ugc.gov.in/pdfnews/8778739_LIST-OF-FAKE-UNIVERSITIES-AS-ON-10-08-1994-TO-TILL-DATE-ENGLISH.pdf.

Second, the deemed-university withdrawal mechanism under the 2016 Regulations is being actively used. Regulation 22.2 empowers UGC to advise the Central Government to strip a deemed tag for as little as one session of violation, or permanently for a serious deliberate violation. This means an institution that was a valid deemed university a year ago may today be under a show-cause notice, barred from fresh admissions, or stripped of status. The only way a parent or student can know the current position is to ask UGC in writing.

What does this mean for Sunita? The recognition status of “XYZ International University” is not a static fact from an old brochure. It is a live, dated position that only UGC can confirm. That makes now the right time to file — before the fee is paid, not after.

You will normally file one Central application to UGC, because UGC is a Central public authority. In limited cases you may also need a second application to the affiliating State university or the State government, but the recognition question itself is answered by UGC.

Step 1 — Identify the public authority. UGC is a Central Government body under the Ministry of Education. Address your application to the CPIO, RTI Cell, University Grants Commission, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, New Delhi – 110002. You can file by post, by hand, or online through the Central RTI portal at rtionline.gov.in by selecting the Ministry of Education and then UGC.

Step 2 — Search the public directories first. Before you file, check three things: (a) the UGC fake-universities list at ugc.gov.in/universitydetails/Fakeuniversity; (b) the 2(f)/12(B) college directory at ugc.gov.in/colleges/recog_College_other; and © the institution's own website for any UGC order number it quotes. Note down exact names, order numbers and dates — quote them in your RTI so the PIO cannot say “no such institution.”

Step 3 — Prepare your questions. Ask for specific, dated records. Five to six strong questions:

1. Recognition status: “Furnish the recognition status of [institution name, with address and UGC code if known] under section 2(f) / section 3 / section 12(B) of the UGC Act 1956, as on today.”
2. Recognition order: “Furnish the number, date and text of the UGC order by which [institution] was recognised or declared deemed-to-be-university, and the list of programmes and disciplines approved.”
3. Inspection: “Furnish the date and findings of the last UGC inspection or expert committee visit to [institution], and the action taken on deficiencies noted.”
4. Withdrawal notices: “Furnish details of any show-cause notice, admission-bar order, or recommendation to withdraw section 3 deemed status issued to [institution] under Regulation 22.2 of the UGC (Institutions Deemed to be Universities) Regulations, 2016, in the last three years.”
5. NAD registration: “Confirm whether [institution] is registered on the National Academic Depository and whether degrees awarded by it are being lodged on NAD/DigiLocker.”
6. Fake-list status: “Confirm whether [institution] figures on the UGC list of fake universities as on the latest date, and if so, furnish the date of inclusion.”

Step 4 — Use the right form and fee. Use the standard RTI application format under Section 6 of the RTI Act, 2005. The fee is Rs.10 for Central applications under the RTI Rules 2012, payable by Indian Postal Order, demand draft, cash against receipt, or online payment through the portal. BPL applicants are exempt on production of a BPL certificate. See RTI Fees by State and Online Portal Directory (2026) for how fees work across Central and State authorities.

Step 5 — Submit and keep proof. File by hand and take a stamped receiving copy, send by registered post and keep the acknowledgement, or file online and save the registration number. Proof of submission is your protection if the reply is delayed or denied.

Step 6 — Wait 30 days. The CPIO must reply within 30 days under Section 7(1) of the RTI Act (48 hours only where life or liberty is at stake, which recognition queries normally are not — though a pending admission deadline can be mentioned to press for speed).

RTI is powerful because it has a built-in ladder. If the CPIO ignores you or gives a vague reply, you do not stop there.

1. First appeal: If no reply comes within 30 days, or you are unhappy with the reply, file a First Appeal under Section 19(1) with the First Appellate Authority (FAA) in UGC. Do this within 30 days of the deadline. The FAA must decide within 30 days, extendable to 45. There is no fee for a first appeal.
2. Second appeal: If the FAA also fails you, file a Second Appeal under Section 19(3) with the Central Information Commission (CIC) within 90 days. There is no fee for a second appeal to the CIC.
3. Complaint under Section 18: You can also file a direct complaint to the CIC if the CPIO never replied at all or refused to accept your application.

The CIC has already settled that recognition status is disclosable. In Harish Chugh v. University Grants Commission, CIC/UGCOM/A/2017/156695-BJ, decided 14 September 2018, the Commission held that the recognition status of a university or institution is disclosable under RTI; only the personal particulars of individual students and employees are exempt under Section 8(1)(j) absent a larger public interest. So if a PIO tries to refuse by citing “third-party information,” you can quote this order in your first appeal.

1. A copy of the institution's advertisement, brochure or prospectus that makes the “UGC recognised” claim — this shows why you are asking.
2. The exact name and address of the institution, and any UGC code or affiliating-university name it quotes.
3. Any offer letter, fee receipt or registration acknowledgement the institution has already issued to you or your child.
4. A BPL certificate if you are claiming the fee exemption.
5. A printout of the UGC directory or fake-list search result for the institution's name, if available.

1. Using only the common name. Many fake institutions trade under several similar names. Always give the full legal name, address and any UGC code or affiliating university so the PIO cannot claim ambiguity.
2. Skipping the fake-list check. Before filing, always search the UGC fake-universities list. If the institution is already listed, you do not need an RTI to know the answer — you need a complaint and, if you have already paid, a consumer case and an FIR.
3. Confusing “deemed” with “2(f)”. A section 3 deemed university and a section 2(f) State Act university are different legal creatures. Ask for the specific section that applies, or you will get a circular reply.
4. Assuming State affiliation equals UGC recognition. A college affiliated to a State university is legitimately teaching under that university's degrees, but the college itself may not be in the UGC 2(f)/12(B) directory. Do not equate the two.
5. Forgetting NAD. A genuine degree from a genuine institution should be traceable on the National Academic Depository. If your RTI reply is silent on NAD registration, ask again — its absence is a red flag.
6. Filing at the State university instead of UGC for the recognition question. The State university can tell you about affiliation (see Check college affiliation — RTI to the university Registrar), but only UGC can tell you about recognition under sections 2(f), 3 and 12(B).

Two Supreme Court judgments are worth knowing, because they confirm how strictly the recognition framework is enforced.

In Prof. Yashpal and Another v. State of Chhattisgarh and Others, (2005) 5 SCC 420 (decided 11 February 2005, AIR 2005 SC 2026), the Supreme Court struck down sections 5 and 6 of the Chhattisgarh Private Universities Act 2002 and quashed 112 “universities” that had been created by a mere gazette notification. The Court held that standards in higher education are exclusively a Union matter under Entry 66 of List I, that a private university must be established by a separate State Act and must conform to UGC regulations, and that the words “established or incorporated” in sections 2(f), 22 and 23 of the UGC Act must be read as “established AND incorporated”. This is the judgment that stops States from mass-producing paper universities.

In Annamalai University (Registrar) v. Secretary to Government, Information and Tourism Department, (2009) 4 SCC 590 (decided 25 February 2009), the Supreme Court held that the UGC Act, under Entry 66 List I, prevails over the Open University Act under Entry 25 List III; degrees obtained in violation of mandatory UGC Minimum Standards Regulations are void; and post-facto approval cannot cure an invalidly conferred degree. The lesson for parents is blunt: if the institution was not recognised when the degree was awarded, no later paperwork can make that degree valid.

You do not need to quote these judgments in your RTI application. But knowing them tells you that the recognition question is not a formality — it is the difference between a degree that works and a degree that is legally void.

To: The Central Public Information Officer
RTI Cell, University Grants Commission
Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, New Delhi - 110002

Subject: Application under Section 6(1) of the RTI Act, 2005
         Recognition status of [full institution name, address]

Sir/Madam,

I, [your name], citizen of India, hereby seek the following information
under Section 6(1) of the Right to Information Act, 2005, concerning the
institution named above, which is offering [course name] and advertising
itself as UGC-recognised:

1. The recognition status of the institution under Section 2(f),
   Section 3 and Section 12(B) of the University Grants Commission
   Act, 1956, as on today.

2. The number, date and operative text of the UGC order by which the
   institution was recognised or declared deemed-to-be-university,
   and the list of programmes and disciplines approved.

3. The date and findings of the last UGC inspection or expert
   committee visit to the institution, and the action taken on
   deficiencies noted.

4. Details of any show-cause notice, admission-bar order, or
   recommendation to withdraw Section 3 deemed status issued to the
   institution under Regulation 22.2 of the UGC (Institutions Deemed
   to be Universities) Regulations, 2016, in the last three years.

5. Whether the institution is registered on the National Academic
   Depository and whether degrees awarded by it are being lodged on
   NAD/DigiLocker.

6. Whether the institution figures on the UGC list of fake
   universities as on the latest date, and if so, the date of
   inclusion.

I state that the information sought is of larger public interest
because the institution is actively soliciting fees from students
and the public has a right to know its legal status. I have
preferred the application under Section 6(3) where the information
is held by another authority, kindly transfer it or part of it to
that authority under Section 6(3) and inform me accordingly.

I request that the information be supplied in printed/electronic
form. I am enclosing Rs.10 as the application fee by Indian Postal
Order number [..] / demand draft / online payment reference [..].

Date: [..]          Signature: [..]
Name: [..]
Address: [..]
Email / Mobile: [..]

[If no reply is received within 30 days, I reserve the right to
file a First Appeal under Section 19(1) and a Second Appeal under
Section 19(3) to the Central Information Commission.]

No. A section 3 deemed-to-be-university is declared by the Central Government on UGC's recommendation under the UGC (Institutions Deemed to be Universities) Regulations, 2016. A section 2(f) university is one established or incorporated by a Central, Provincial or State Act. Both can award valid degrees under section 22, but they arrive at that status by different routes. Ask your RTI for the specific section that applies to the institution you are checking.

A State-affiliated college teaches under the degrees of its affiliating university, so its degrees are valid through that university. The college itself may additionally be included under UGC section 2(f) and section 12(B), which makes it eligible for UGC/Central financial assistance. Affiliation and UGC recognition are not the same thing. If your question is about affiliation, see Check college affiliation — RTI to the university Registrar; if it is about UGC recognition, file to UGC.

Foreign degrees are not recognised by UGC directly. Equivalence is handled by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU), which issues an equivalence certificate. That is a separate RTI to a separate authority. If your concern is whether an Indian institution is UGC-recognised, this guide applies; if it is a foreign degree, file to AIU instead.

Then its degrees are void under section 22 of the UGC Act and cannot be used for any job, higher study or government purpose. Do not pay any fee. If you have already paid, you can file an FIR for cheating, a consumer complaint for deficiency of service and unfair trade practice, and approach the State education department for a refund. The admission-agent-forged-fee-receipt-offer-letter-visa-document guide covers the forgery and fraud angle.

The CIC has held in Harish Chugh v. UGC (CIC/UGCOM/A/2017/156695-BJ, 14 September 2018) that recognition status is disclosable. Only personal particulars of individual students or employees are exempt under section 8(1)(j) absent larger public interest. If a PIO refuses, quote this order in your first appeal under Section 19(1).

The CPIO must reply within 30 days under Section 7(1) of the RTI Act. If there is no reply, or the reply is vague, file a First Appeal to the FAA in UGC within 30 days of the deadline, then a Second Appeal to the CIC within 90 days. The timeline calculator at https://righttoinformation.wiki/tools/timeline-calculator-app.html works out your exact deadline dates.

If the institution offers technical or professional courses such as engineering, pharmacy, management or architecture, it may also need AICTE approval in addition to UGC recognition. The two are distinct approvals. See AICTE approval status of a college — RTI to AICTE for the AICTE route. For a plain B.A., B.Sc. or B.Com, UGC recognition is the relevant question.

Ask for all three. A single question worded as “furnish the recognition status under Section 2(f), Section 3 and Section 12(B) of the UGC Act 1956” lets the PIO answer whichever section is relevant. The AI RTI drafting tool at https://righttoinformation.wiki/tools/ai-rti-draft-app.html can help you structure the questions, and the reply checker at https://righttoinformation.wiki/tools/pio-reply-checker-app.html can review the reply you receive.

You can do either. The Central RTI portal at rtionline.gov.in lets you select the Ministry of Education and then UGC, pay the Rs.10 fee online, and receive the reply electronically. Filing online gives you a registration number and an automatic audit trail. See RTI for Beginners: Everything You Need to Know Before Filing Your for the general step-by-step.

1. University Grants Commission Act, 1956 (full text): [indiacode.nic.in](https://www.indiacode.nic.in/handle/123456789/1627?locale=en)
2. UGC FAQ on universities and colleges (section 2(f), 12(B), 22, 3): [ugc.gov.in](https://www.ugc.gov.in/pdfnews/FAQ_uni_clg.pdf)
3. Section 2(f) text and commentary: [indiankanoon.org](https://indiankanoon.org/doc/603538/)
4. UGC list of fake universities (current page): [ugc.gov.in](https://www.ugc.gov.in/universitydetails/Fakeuniversity)
5. UGC fake universities list PDF (as on latest date): [ugc.gov.in](https://www.ugc.gov.in/pdfnews/8778739_LIST-OF-FAKE-UNIVERSITIES-AS-ON-10-08-1994-TO-TILL-DATE-ENGLISH.pdf)
6. UGC 2(f)/12(B) college directory: [ugc.gov.in](https://www.ugc.gov.in/colleges/recog_College_other)
7. UGC (Institutions Deemed to be Universities) Regulations, 2016: [ugc.gov.in](https://www.ugc.gov.in/regulations/UGC_Regulations_university)
8. Deemed Universities Regulations 2016 full text: [legitquest.com](https://www.legitquest.com/act/ugc-institutions-deemed-to-be-universities-regulations-2016/CBD6)
9. Prof. Yashpal v. State of Chhattisgarh, (2005) 5 SCC 420: [indiankanoon.org](https://indiankanoon.org/doc/564368/)
10. Annamalai University (Reg.) v. Secretary to Govt., (2009) 4 SCC 590: [vlex.in](https://vlex.in/vid/annamalai-university-and-n-572196634)
11. Harish Chugh v. UGC, CIC/UGCOM/A/2017/156695-BJ (14 September 2018): [indiankanoon.org](https://indiankanoon.org/doc/67292759/)
12. Ministry of Education, Department of Higher Education: [education.gov.in](https://www.education.gov.in/en/higher_education)
13. UGC official website: [ugc.gov.in](https://www.ugc.gov.in/)
14. National Academic Depository via DigiLocker: [nad.digilocker.gov.in](https://nad.digilocker.gov.in)
15. Central RTI online portal: [rtionline.gov.in](https://rtionline.gov.in)
16. RTI Rules 2012: [niti.gov.in](https://niti.gov.in/sites/default/files/2025-07/RTI%20Rules%20Final%20PDF.pdf)

1. RTI for degree verification
2. RTI for AICTE approval status
3. RTI for college affiliation
4. RTI for college admission rejection
5. RTI for campus placement data
6. RTI for beginners
7. RTI fees by state
8. Background verification stuck on unverified degree

1. Use the drafting tools. The AI RTI drafter at https://righttoinformation.wiki/tools/ai-rti-draft-app.html and the first-appeal tool at https://righttoinformation.wiki/tools/first-appeal-app.html walk you through filing and escalating this exact application.
2. Help us keep these guides free. Right to Information Wiki is run by volunteers who verify every fact before it is published. Every verified source above was checked by hand so that the recognition question you ask is the one the law backs.

Last reviewed: 4 July 2026.