The University Grants Commission (UGC) has identified 32 institutions across the country as “fake universities”, cautioning students that degrees awarded by these entities will not be recognised for higher education or employment.In its latest public notice, the UGC clarified that these institutions wee neither established by an Act of Parliament or a state legislature nor recognised under Sections 2(f) and 3 of the UGC Act, 1956. The commission, which functions under the Ministry of Education, said such institutions were not legally authorised to confer degrees.According to the list, Delhi has the highest number of fake universities, with 12 operating from the national capital. Uttar Pradesh follows with four such institutions. Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Puducherry and West Bengal have two each, while Arunachal Pradesh, Jharkhand and Rajasthan have one each.In northern India, Haryana has one institution flagged as fake by the UGC, while notably, Punjab does not have any university listed in the notice.The UGC has urged students and parents to verify the recognition status of any institution on its official website before taking admission, especially as undergraduate and postgraduate admission processes are underway in many parts of the country.Officials also noted that several of these institutions use names that resemble the names of well-known universities or international organisations, which can mislead prospective students.The issue of fake universities has been a recurring concern for the higher education regulator, which periodically releases updated lists to alert the public.The UGC reiterated that only universities established through proper legislation or declared as “deemed to be universities” are authorised to award degrees in India, and advised aspirants to exercise caution before enrolling in any institution.Fake universities* Delhi: World Peace of United Nations University, Institute of Management and Engineering, All India Institute of Public & Physical Health Sciences, Commercial University Ltd, United Nations University, Vocational University, ADR Centric Juridical University, Indian Institute of Science and Engineering, Viswakarma Open University for Self Employment, Adhyatmik Vishwavidyalaya (Spiritual University), National Institute of Management Solution and Mountain Institute of Management & Technology* Uttar Pradesh: Gandhi Hindi Vidyapith, Prayagraj; Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose University (Open University), Aligarh; Bhartiya Shiksha Parishad, Lucknow; and Mahamaya Technical University, Noida* Haryana: Magic & Art University, Faridabad