New Delhi: The University Grants Commission (UGC) has released an updated list of 22 fake universities operating across the country, cautioning students and parents against enrolling in unrecognized institutions.

According to the 2025 list, Delhi has the highest number of fake universities — 10 in total — followed by Uttar Pradesh with four. The listed institutions are not recognised under Section 2(f) or 3 of the UGC Act, 1956, and therefore do not have the authority to confer degrees.

The fake universities identified in Delhi include the All India Institute of General and Physical Education Sciences (AIIPHS), Commercial University, United Nations University, Vocational University, ADR Centric Juridical University, Indian Institute of Science and Engineering, Vishwakarma Self-Employed Open University, Spiritual University, United Nations World Peace University, and the Institute of Management and Engineering.

In Uttar Pradesh, the UGC flagged Gandhi Hindi Vidyapeeth (Allahabad), Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Open University (Aligarh), Bharatiya Shiksha Parishad (Lucknow), and Mahamaya Technological University (Noida).

Other fake institutions are located in Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, West Bengal, Maharashtra, and Puducherry.

The UGC has urged students to verify the recognition status of universities before admission by visiting its official website (www.ugc.gov.in). It reiterated that degrees from fake universities are invalid and have no legal standing.