UGC declares 24 Universities as fake, Uttar Pradesh tops list
In response to the question asked in the Lok Sabha, the Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan informed that the University Grants Commission (UGC) has declared 24 “self-styled” institutes fake and found two more in violation of norms.
Twenty-four self-styled institutions have been declared fake by the University Grants Commission (UGC) and two more have been found in violation of the norms.
This was informed by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Monday in response to a written question asked in the Lok Sabha question hour.
Based on the complaints received from the students, parents, general public, and also through electronic print media, the UGC has declared 24 self-styled institutions as fake universities.
Pradhan has informed that two more institutes namely Bhartiya Shiksha Parishad, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh and the Indian Institute of Planning and Management (IIPM), Qutub Enclave, New Delhi are also found functioning in violation of the UGC Act, 1956 and the matter regarding 2 more institutes are pending in court.
Among the list of fake universities, the Uttar Pradesh has topped in highest number of fake universities in India. Uttar Pradesh has 8 fake universities, Delhi has 7, Odisha and West Bengal have 2 while Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Puducherry and Maharashtra have one fake university each.
In Uttar Pradesh— Varanaseya Sanskrit Vishwavidyalaya, Varanasi, Mahila Gram Vidyapith, Allahabad, Gandhi Hindi Vidyapith, Allahabad, National University of Electro Complex Homeopathy, Kanpur, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Open University, Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh Vishwavidyalaya, Mathura, Maharana Pratap Shiksha Niketan Vishwavidyalaya, Pratapgarh and Indraprastha Shiksha Parishad, Noida – are the eight universities which have declared as fake by the UGC.
Delhi has seven such fake universities — Commercial University Ltd, United Nations University, Vocational University, ADR Centric Juridical University, Indian Institution of Science and Engineering, Vishwakarma Open University for Self Employment and Adhyatmik Vishwavidyalaya (Spiritual University).
Two universities- Indian Institute of Alternative Medicine, Kolkata and Institute of Alternative Medicine and Research, Kolkata from West Bengal as well as two universities Nababharat Shiksha Parishad, Rourkela and North Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology from Odisha have been included in the list of fake universities.
The list of fake universities also includes – Sree Bodhi Academy of Higher Education, Puducherry, Christ New Testament Deemed University, Andhra Pradesh, Raja Arabic University, Nagpur, St John”s University, Kerala and Badaganvi Sarkar World Open University Education Society, Karnataka.
Assuring action against such fake universities, Pradhan said that the UGC public the list of fake universities/institutes through Hindi and English media and the also writes letter to state chief secretaries, Education secretaries and principal secretaries to take action against such universities located in their jurisdiction.
The much-anticipated teaser for L2: Empuraan, the second chapter of the planned trilogy directed by Prithviraj Sukumaran, has been unveiled, offering a glimpse of a darker, more brutal narrative. Starring Malayalam cinema legend Mohanlal, the film continues the story of Stephen Nedumpally, also known as Khureshi Ab’raam, a character that mesmerized audiences in Lucifer.
The teaser debuted at a grand event attended by the film’s key players, including Mohanlal, Prithviraj, and Mammootty, who released the teaser in style. Clocking in at 143 seconds, the preview immediately sets a grim tone, beginning in Qaraqosh, a war-torn town in Iraq. The atmosphere is tense, underscored by the chilling phrase, “Death to the Evil.”
One of the standout moments in the teaser recalls PK Ramdas (Sachin Khedekar) advising Priyadarshini (Manju Warrier) in the first film: “If one day you feel everything is falling apart and I’m not around, the only person you can turn to is Stephen.” This sentiment reverberates through the teaser as it shifts to Stephen’s iconic black Ambassador car, now layered with dust—an ominous sign of his long absence.
The suspense builds as a voice declares, “He leads the most powerful mercenary group in Asia,” introducing audiences to Stephen’s transformation into a figure commanding immense influence and fear. The teaser’s climactic moments highlight Mohanlal’s commanding return as Khureshi Ab’raam, warning of the perils of dealing with the devil.
Star-Studded Cast and Stellar Crew
Joining Mohanlal in this cinematic spectacle are Manju Warrier, Indrajith Sukumaran, Tovino Thomas, and others reprising their roles from Lucifer. The film also features Saniya Iyappan, Saikumar, Baiju Santhosh, Fazil, and Sachin Khedekar in key roles.
The story, penned by Murali Gopy, is brought to life with the expertise of cinematographer Sujith Vaassudev, editor Akhilesh Mohan, and composer Deepak Dev, whose score amplifies the teaser’s intensity.
As the teaser hints at power struggles, deceit, and vengeance, L2: Empuraan sets the stage for an explosive continuation of this gripping saga, leaving fans eagerly awaiting its release.
The Maharashtra State Board of Technical Education (MSBTE) has officially announced the results for the Winter 2024 diploma exams. Students who appeared for these exams, held in December 2024, can now access their results on MSBTE’s official website, msbte.org.in.
To check the MSBTE Winter Exam Result 2025, candidates must have their enrollment or seat numbers ready. The results are accessible via a direct link available on the website.
Navigate to the “Examination” section and click on “Winter 2024 Exam Result.”
Enter your enrollment number or seat number in the required fields.
Click on the “Show Result” button to view your marksheet.
Download and save the PDF for future reference.
Details mentioned on the MSBTE Winter Diploma results:
The MSBTE Winter Diploma Marksheet 2025 includes the following information:
Student’s name
Register number
Course name
Marks obtained in each subject
Subject codes and names
Total marks
Maximum marks
Result status (Pass/Fail)
The announcement is crucial for diploma students across Maharashtra as it determines their academic progress and eligibility for future courses or career opportunities.
Students are advised to verify all details on their marksheets and contact the board in case of discrepancies. For further updates, visit the official MSBTE website.
The Waqf Amendment Bill is poised for a final vote on January 29 in the Joint Parliamentary Committee. The committee had been tasked with reviewing the bill by November 29, which was then extended to February 13, approved 14 changes to the draft. The 44 amendments proposed by the Opposition were rejected by its chairman BJP MP Jagadambika Pal.
The Opposition had accused the BJP of bias in several sittings of the committee leading to the suspension of several MPs, including Kalyan Banerjee of Trinamool Congress and Asaduddin Owaisi of the AIMIM, both vocal critics of the Bill.
The Opposition MPs had also written to Speaker Om Birla against Pal, saying he was rushing the Bill to gain political mileage ahead of the Delhi Assembly election due to be held on February 5.
Earlier, reports had said Banerjee had broken a glass during a verbal altercation while in deliberations with BJP MP and former Calcutta HC judge Abhijit Gangopadhyay.
The Bill aims to reform Waqf Board administration, mandating the inclusion of non-Muslim and women members. The Central Waqf Council’s composition would also change, incorporating a Union minister, MPs, ex-judges, and individuals of national repute, regardless of religious affiliation. Crucially, the Council’s land acquisition powers would be removed. A controversial clause restricts donations to Muslims practicing their faith for at least five years, prompting concerns about religious freedom.
While proponents claim the bill empowers Muslim women and children, critics, including the Congress and the DMK, allege it infringes upon Articles 15 and 30 of the Constitution, which guarantee freedom of religion and the right of minorities to administer educational institutions. The final report is expected by January 31.
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