**Summary:**
In response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1352, answered on July 28, 2025, the Ministry of Education addressed concerns regarding the issuance of fake online degrees. The Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, Dr. Sukanta Majumdar, stated that, according to University Grants Commission (UGC) records, no Higher Educational Institution has been identified as awarding fake degrees for online programs. The UGC publishes the year-wise recognition/entitlement status of universities authorized to offer programs through Open and Distance Learning (ODL) and online modes, including program names, in the public domain. The UGC also displays precautionary notices on its official website for students considering enrollment in ODL and online learning programs. No specific state-wise details of fake degree cases, actions taken against culprits, or involvement of universities were provided, as no such instances were identified by the UGC. Consequently, no proposals exist to cancel the recognition of any universities based on these grounds. The government's measures focus on transparency and student awareness through public dissemination of university recognition status and cautionary notices.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Education: The central government ministry responsible for education in India, under which the Department of Higher Education operates.
Department of Higher Education: A department within the Ministry of Education responsible for higher education matters.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India, where the unstarred question was raised.
Dr. Kalyan Vaijinathrao Kale: Member of Parliament who raised the unstarred question regarding online education and fake degrees.
Dr. Sukanta Majumdar: Minister of State in the Ministry of Education who provided the answer to the unstarred question.
University Grants Commission (UGC): A statutory body responsible for the coordination, determination and maintenance of standards of university education in India.
Open and Distance Learning (ODL): A mode of delivering education where the learner is not physically present in a traditional classroom.
Online Learning: A mode of delivering education using the internet.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1352
ANSWERED ON 28.07.2025
Online Education
†1352. Dr. Kalyan Vaijinathrao Kale:
Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has received any cases of fake degrees being given online;
(b) if so, the State-wise details thereof;
(c) the action taken by the Government against the culprits of such cases, State-wise;
(d) whether the involvement of universities has also been found in these cases;
(e) if so, the details thereof;
(f) whether the Government proposes to cancel the recognition of such universities;
(g) if so, the details thereof; and
(h) the details of steps taken by the Government to ensure the future of children?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
(DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR)
(a) to (h) As per the record of University Grants Commission (UGC), no Higher
Educational Institution has been identified giving fake degrees for online programmes.
Moreover, the UGC uploads the year-wise recognition/entitlement status of universities
recognized/entitled to offer programme through Open and Distance Learning (ODL)
mode and Online mode along with programme names in the public domain. Added to
this, notices are displayed on the official website of UGC regarding precautions to be
taken by the students before enrolling for programmes offered under ODL and/or Online
Learning mode.
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