UGC Act Strengthening India’s Academic Integrity: Enforcing DigiLocker/NAD Verification and Cracking Down on Fake Universities

UGC Act Strengthening India’s Academic Integrity: Enforcing DigiLocker/NAD Verification and Cracking Down on Fake Universities

Introduction

In India, higher education and employment are deeply connected: degrees determine eligibility for jobs, further study, and professional credibility. Yet, a persistent problem continues to undermine the

hopes and hard work of genuine graduates — fake or unrecognized universities issuing invalid degrees, leading to career setbacks, lost opportunities, and deep frustration among legitimate jobseekers. 

The Times of India

This Article explores:  What fake universities are

How the University Grants Commission (UGC) Act 1956 defines degree-granting authority

✔ The role of digital systems like DigiLocker and National Academic Depository (NAD) in verification

✔ Why better policies are needed now

✔ A proposed roadmap to ensure fair employment for valid degree holders

1. What Are Fake or Unrecognized Universities?

Fake or unrecognized universities are institutions that:

Are not established under a Central or State Act

Are not recognized by the UGC under 

Sections 2(f), 3, and 22 of the UGC Act

Award degrees that have no legal validity in India for education or employment

Mislead students into believing they are legitimate degree-granting entities

The University Grants Commission (UGC) regularly issues public warnings about such entities because their degrees cannot legally be used for higher education or employment. 

www.ndtv.com

Examples of Fake/Unrecognized Institutions

Recent official notices include institutions such as:

.....

These entities were publicly flagged by the UGC for operating without legal authority and granting degrees without recognition under Sections 2(f) or 3 of the UGC Act. 

India Today

Various reports also confirm that there are 

22 fake universities across India identified by the UGC, with several concentrated in states. 

The Economic Times

2. Understanding the UGC Act 1956: Legal Framework

The University Grants Commission Act of 1956 lays the foundation for higher education regulation in India.

Key Sections

Section 2(f): Defines what constitutes a recognized university — one established under Central/State Act or recognized by UGC. �

India Code

Section 3: Declares that institutions can be recognized as universities if notified by the

Central Government on UGC advice. �

India Code

Section 22: Only entities covered under Sections 2(f)/3 (or specially empowered by an Act of Parliament) can legally confer degrees. 

Education Government of India

Section 23: Prohibits use of the word “University” for entities not legally entitled. 

Education Government of India

Degrees from any institution not

complying with these legal provisions are invalid for academic progression or employment, as repeatedly emphasized by the UGC. 

www.ndtv.com

3. The Digital Revolution: DigiLocker and National Academic Depository (NAD)

To reduce fraud and make verification easier, the Indian government has implemented digital solutions.

DigiLocker

DigiLocker is a secure cloud-based platform under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) where individuals can store and access documents, including academic certificates, digitally.

 These digital documents are legally valid and can be shared for verification without physical copies. 

DigiLocker

 Official DigiLocker Portal:

https://www.digilocker.gov.in 

DigiLocker

National Academic Depository (NAD)

The National Academic Depository (NAD) is a government-mandated digital repository of all academic awards — degrees, diplomas, and marksheets — in digital format. It is part of the Digital India program and is integrated with DigiLocker. 

nad.gov.in

Official NAD Portal:

https://nad.digilocker.gov.in/ 

nad.digilocker.gov.in

Why DigiLocker/NAD Matters

Academic records lodged via NAD are digitally authenticated and forgery-resistant. 

nad.gov.in

Employers and educational institutions can verify certificates instantly online. 

nad.gov.in

This reduces reliance on paper certificates, which can be forged or manipulated.

Digital verification is now considered legally equivalent to physical documents under Indian law when issued through NAD/DigiLocker. 

nad.gov.in

4. Why Current Verification Practices Are Weak

Despite digital systems existing, many employers still:

Accept PDFs, physical certificates, or unverified copies

Do not check official government repositories (like NAD/UGC lists)

Hire candidates without authentic verification

This allows degrees from unrecognized or fake institutions to slip through screening and enter formal employment unjustly.

5. Proposed Policy: Mandatory DigiLocker/NAD Degree Verification

To protect the integrity of employment and academic credentials, the following policy framework is recommended:

A. Mandatory Digital Verification Before Hiring

All companies — public sector, private, and third-party contractors — should be required by regulation to:

Require all academic certificates be fetched directly via DigiLocker/NAD. 

nad.digilocker.gov.in

Reject any applicant whose degree is not verifiable digitally or not lodged in NAD. 

nad.gov.in

Maintain verification audit logs as part of HR compliance.

B. Existing Employees Must Be Audited

Companies should conduct retrospective verification:

For existing staff whose degrees were not verified digitally at hiring

Ensure compliance within a defined timeline (e.g., 6 months) This prevents individuals with invalid credentials from continuing in roles they should not hold.

C. Third-Party and Contract Hires

Contracting companies and staffing agencies must:

Only submit candidates whose credentials are digitally verified

Be held responsible (penalties) if unverified degrees are placed in client companies

D. Standard Government Enforcement

Government departments (Centre and States) should:

Mandate NAD/DigiLocker checks for all public jobs and professional licensure

Create enforcement mechanisms for non-compliance

6. Benefits of the Policy

For Students

✔ Genuine degree holders will have fair access to jobs

✔ Reduced anxiety about unfair competition

✔ Digital certificates that cannot be forged

For Employers

✔ Faster, reliable verification

✔ Less hiring risk

✔ Better workforce integrity

For the Nation

✔ Higher trust in the education-to-employment pipeline

✔ Decreased fraud and exploitation

✔ Improved productivity and economic output

Conclusion: Towards a Fair Academic and Employment System

The prevalence of fake or unrecognized universities undermines students,

employers, and society at large. Utilizing UGC legal protections under the UGC Act 1956, combined with modern digital tools like DigiLocker/NAD, India has the infrastructure to ensure academic credibility and protect employment integrity. 

India Code +1

A policy that mandates digital verification of academic awards for hiring — and requires existing organizations to audit their workforce — would be a major step toward fairness and trust in both

education and employment. This kind of reform not only respects the law but also ensures that hardworking, genuine graduates are not sidelined by fraudulent credentials.

Official Government Links for Verification

UGC Official Portal (Recognized and Fake Institutions Notices): https://www.ugc.gov.in 

UGC

DigiLocker (Document Wallet & Verifier System): https://www.digilocker.gov.in 

DigiLocker

National Academic Depository (NAD): https://nad.digilocker.gov.in/ 

nad.digilocker.gov.in