The University Grants Commission (UGC) has formally blacklisted the ‘Rajeev Gandhi Institute of Technology & Management’ in Alwar, Rajasthan, categorising it as a “fake” institution.
In a public notice issued on 25 March 2026, the higher education regulator clarified that the institute, located at Mansa Chowk, Bhiwadi, is neither established under a Central or State Act nor recognised under the UGC Act, 1956. Consequently, it is not empowered to confer any undergraduate or postgraduate degrees. This move follows a nationwide crackdown identifying 32 such fraudulent entities.
The UGC has cautioned students and parents against seeking admission here, warning that any degree obtained from this establishment will be invalid for higher studies or government employment, potentially jeopardising thousands of academic careers.
Unrecognised Status and Official Warnings
The crackdown on the Alwar-based institute in Rajasthan was triggered by findings that the establishment was conferring degrees in blatant violation of statutory norms. According to the public notice signed by UGC Secretary Manish Joshi, the institution is not a “University” within the legal meaning of Section 2(f) or Section 3 of the UGC Act.
“It has come to the notice of the UGC that Rajeev Gandhi Institute of Technology & Management is awarding degrees in violation of the UGC Act, 1956. Taking admission in such a self-styled institution may jeopardise the career of the students,” the official circular read. The regulator further emphasised that only those institutions established by an Act of Parliament or State Legislature are entitled to grant degrees. The sudden blacklisting has caused panic among the current student body, who now find their academic investments and hard work rendered legally void.
A Growing Pattern of Academic Fraud
This latest development is part of a broader, more alarming trend of “degree mills” mushrooming across India, particularly in regional hubs. The UGC’s 2026 update to its “Fake University List” highlights that 32 institutions across 12 states are operating without any legal mandate.
While Delhi currently leads this list with 12 such entities, Rajasthan has also seen a rise in unrecognised private centres that often use names similar to prestigious public universities to mislead the public. Historically, these institutions exploit the information gap in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, where parents may not have the resources or technical knowledge to verify the accreditation of an institute via official portals. In this specific case, the UGC has reportedly coordinated with Rajasthan’s Principal Secretary of Higher Education to initiate legal proceedings against the management for deceiving students and the public at large.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
The revelation that an entire institution has been operating as a “fake” entity is more than just a regulatory failure; it is a profound social injustice. We believe that education is a sacred pursuit, often funded by the hard-earned life savings of middle-class and rural families who see a degree as a ticket to a better life.
When fraudulent operators exploit these aspirations, they don’t just steal money—they steal time and hope. While the UGC’s public notice is a necessary corrective, the fact that such an institute was able to set up a campus, market itself, and enroll students in the first place suggests a lapse in local administrative oversight. We call for a more proactive monitoring system where district authorities conduct mandatory accreditation checks on all private coaching and management centres annually. Our commitment to social change demands that we protect our youth from these predatory “self-styled” universities and ensure that the path to knowledge is paved with integrity, not deceit.
Also Read: 10 Fall Ill After Eating Momos in Greater Noida, Food Poisoning Suspected by Authorities
📢 UGC has declared Rajeev Gandhi Institute of Technology & Management, Alwar (Rajasthan) as a fake institution.
— SansadTV (@sansad_tv) March 28, 2026
⚠️ The institute is not recognised and is not authorised to award any UG/PG degrees. Any degree issued by it is not valid for higher education or government… pic.twitter.com/1EdO9urttW
