**Executive Summary**
This document outlines the steps taken by the Government of India to improve the functioning of the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) and strengthen education quality. It references the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and a High Level Committee chaired by Dr. K. Radhakrishnan. The key actions involve implementing strategic reforms and moving towards a graded accreditation system for Higher Education Institutions (HEIs).
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 Alignment:**
* A robust system of graded accreditation will be established as per NEP 2020.
* This system will specify phased benchmarks for HEIs to achieve set levels of quality, self-governance, and autonomy.
* **High Level Committee Recommendations:**
* A committee under Dr. K. Radhakrishnan considered strategic reforms for approval, accreditation, and ranking of HEIs.
* Reforms aim for a simple, trust-based, objective, and rationalized system using technology-driven approaches.
* The committee also considered global best practices on accreditation. The report is available at http://naac.gov.in/images/docs/DrRadhakrishnanCommittee-FinalReport.pdf
* **Accreditation Goals and Process:**
* HEIs will aim to attain the highest accreditation level within 15 years through Institutional Development Plans (IDPs).
* The goal is for HEIs to function as self-governing degree-granting institutions/clusters.
* Accreditation will eventually become a binary process, aligning with global practices.
* **Implementation by NAAC:**
* NAAC, under the UGC, is implementing reforms in two phases.
* Phase 1: Introduction of Basic/Binary Accreditation.
* Phase 2: Maturity Based Graded Levels (MBGLs).
* NAAC is conducting outreach programs and consultations with State Higher Education authorities.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder:** Higher Education Institutions (HEIs)
* **Impact:** HEIs will be subject to a new graded accreditation system with phased benchmarks. They will need to develop and implement Institutional Development Plans (IDPs) to achieve higher accreditation levels.
* **Action Required:** HEIs must prepare for the new accreditation methodology, align their strategies with NEP 2020, and develop/revise their IDPs.
**Stakeholder:** State Higher Education Authorities
* **Impact:** State authorities will need to understand the new accreditation methodology for HEIs.
* **Action Required:** State authorities should participate in NAAC's outreach programs and consultations to become familiar with the new accreditation process.
**Stakeholder:** National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC)
* **Impact:** NAAC will be responsible for implementing the new accreditation framework and conducting outreach programs.
* **Action Required:** NAAC must continue implementing reforms and conducting outreach programs.
Key Entities Referenced
National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC): Autonomous organization responsible for assessing and accrediting Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in India; reforms to NAAC are the focus of the policy.
National Education Policy (NEP), 2020: The policy document providing the overarching vision for reforms in the education sector, including accreditation standards for HEIs.
Ministry of Education: The central ministry overseeing education in India, responsible for approving the recommendations of the High Level Committee and overall policy implementation.
High Level Committee (Dr. K. Radhakrishnan Committee): Committee constituted to consider strategic reforms consistent with the vision of the NEP, 2020 and the need for adopting a simple, trust based, objective and rationalized system for approval, accreditation and ranking of HEIs through technology-driven systems.
University Grants Commission (UGC): Statutory body responsible for coordination, determination and maintenance of standards of university education in India; NAAC is an autonomous organization under the UGC.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1249
ANSWERED ON 08/12/2025
New Framework of National Assessment and Accreditation Council
1249. Shri Parshottambhai Rupala:
Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:
(a) the steps taken by the Government to establish a new framework aimed at improving the
functioning of the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) and to further strengthen
the quality of education in the country;
(b) whether the Government has examined the regulations of other developed countries including
their practices of rigorous academic Auditing of Educational Institutions, if so, the details thereof and
the key points identified by the Government for adoption to reinforce India’s educational quality;
(c) whether the Government proposes to enact a legislation for NAAC and if so, the details thereof;
and
(d) the details of the specific measures taken/being undertaken by the Government to address and
prevent alleged irregular activities in accreditation of educational institutions in the country?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
(DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR)
(a) and (b) As per vision of National Education Policy (NEP), 2020, a robust system of graded
accreditation shall be established, which will specify phased benchmarks for all HEIs to achieve set
levels of quality, self-governance, and autonomy.
For strengthening the Assessment and Accreditation of HEIs, the Government of lndia constituted a
High Level Committee, under the Chairmanship of Dr. K. Radhakrishnan, the then Chairperson,
Board of Governors, lndian lnstitute of Technology (llT) Kanpur & Chairperson, Standing
Committee of llT Council. This Committee considered the introduction of strategic reforms
consistent with the vision of the NEP, 2020 and the need for adopting a simple, trust based, objective
and rationalized system for approval, accreditation and ranking of HEIs through technology-driven
systems. It also considered global best practices on accreditation. The recommendations made by the
Committee have been approved by the Ministry. The report of this Committee is available at
http://naac.gov.in/images/docs/DrRadhakrishnanCommittee-FinalReport.pdf
All HEIs will aim, through their Institutional Development Plans (IDPs), to attain the highest level of
accreditation over the next 15 years, and thereby eventually aim to function as self-governing
degree-granting institutions/clusters. In the long run, accreditation will become a binary process, as
per the extant global practice.(c) and (d) Based on the accepted recommendations, the National Assessment and Accreditation
Council (NAAC), an autonomous organization under the UGC, is implementing the reforms in two
phases- Introduction of Basic/ Binary Accreditation followed by Maturity Based Graded Levels
(MBGLs). NAAC has held outreach programmes and focused consultations with State Higher
Education authorities to sensitize them about the new accreditation methodology for HEIs.
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