UGC Releases 2026 Fake Universities List: Delhi Tops With 12 Unrecognised Institutes Across India

• UGC has issued a fresh state-wise list of fake universities as of February 2026.
• Delhi has the highest number with 12 institutes flagged as unrecognised.
• Students advised to verify institutions on the official UGC website before enrolling.

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has released its updated list of fake universities across India for February 2026, cautioning students and parents against taking admission in unrecognised institutions. The list identifies institutes that are not authorised to grant degrees and operate outside the UGC framework.

Delhi Tops Fake Universities List

Delhi continues to record the highest number of fake universities in the country, with 12 institutions flagged by the UGC. Uttar Pradesh follows with four such institutes, while several other states have reported one or two fake universities each.

The UGC noted that these institutions are not empowered to confer degrees and misleading advertisements by such entities often target students seeking higher education opportunities.

States with fake universities include:

Delhi (12), Uttar Pradesh (4)
Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Puducherry, West Bengal (2 each)
Rajasthan, Arunachal Pradesh, Haryana, Jharkhand (1 each)

Key Institutes Flagged By UGC

Among the institutions named in Delhi are World Peace of United Nations University, Commercial University Ltd., Indian Institute of Science and Engineering, and National Institute of Management Solution.

Several institutes in Uttar Pradesh, including Gandhi Hindi Vidyapith in Prayagraj and Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Open University in Aligarh, have also been listed.

States such as Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra also feature institutions that the UGC has declared fake, stating they are operating without proper authority.

UGC Issues Student Advisory

The higher education regulator has urged students to carefully verify the recognition status of universities before applying for courses. It reiterated that degrees issued by fake universities are invalid for jobs or further studies.

The complete list of fake universities is available on the official UGC website, and authorities have advised aspirants to cross-check details to avoid falling victim to fraudulent institutions.