1,28,976 MBBS, 85,020 PG seats, 818 medical colleges in India: Health Ministry cites NMC data, regulations in Parliament

1,28,976 MBBS, 85,020 PG seats, 818 medical colleges in India: Health Ministry cites NMC data, regulations in Parliament 

Written By : Adity Saha Published On 11 Mar 2026 5:49 PM | Updated On 11 Mar 2026 5:49 PM

New Delhi: Altogether 1,28,976 MBBS, 85,020 PG seats and 818 medical colleges are available in the country as per the National Medical Commission (NMC), the Health Ministry recently told the Parliament while citing NMC data and regulations.

Further, under CSS schemes, 4977 additional MBBS seats and 8058 additional PG seats have been approved in medical colleges across the country, Union Health Minister Smt Anupriya Patel informed the Rajya Sabha.

While informing Parliament about the increase in seat capacity in medical colleges, the Minister said that, as per the National Medical Commission, the number of medical colleges has increased by 111.36%, from 387 in 2013-14 to 818 at present.

Further, she stated that MBBS seats have increased by 151.18%, from 51,348 before 2013-14 to 1,28,976 currently, while PG seats have risen by 172.63%, from 31,185 before 2014 to 85,020 at present, improving access to medical education in the country.

"The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare administers a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) for ‘Establishment of new medical colleges attached with existing district/referral hospitals’ with preference to underserved areas and aspirational districts, where there is no existing Government or private medical college. Under these schemes, additional 4977 MBBS seats and 8058 PG seats have been approved in medical colleges across the country," the Minister said.

The information was shared while responding to a series of queries raised by parliament member who sought to know the reasons and details of sanctioning additional medical seats in Government colleges to increase MBBS and postgraduate capacity; whether the increase in seats is accompanied by proportional enhancement in faculty, infrastructure and clinical training facilities to maintain education quality, if so, the details thereof, if not, the reasons therefor; whether the National Medical Commission monitors compliance with regulations and standards across colleges and the steps being taken to ensure equitable access to medical education across States and underserved regions.

In response, MoS Health Patel informed that the National Medical Commission (NMC) invites online applications every year from medical colleges and institutions across the country for the establishment of new medical colleges and for increase of Undergraduate (UG) and Postgraduate (PG) medical seats. NMC issues Letter of Permission (LoP)/ Letter of Disapproval (LoD) after due scrutiny and assessment in accordance with the provisions of the Establishment of Medical Institutions, Assessment and Rating Regulations, 2023, the Minimum Standard Requirement for Undergraduate courses (UGMSR), 2023, the Minimum Standard Requirement for Postgraduate courses (PGMSR), 2023, and other relevant norms issued by NMC from time to time.

"The "Maintenance of Standards of Medical Education Regulations, 2023 (MSMER2023)" makes it obligatory on the part of the medical college or medical institution, after its establishment, to furnish an Annual Disclosure Report (ADR) to the concerned Board, satisfying such conditions provided under the notified MSRs by Under-Graduate Medical Education Board (UGMEB) or Post-Graduate Medical Education Board (PGMEB) and regulations of NMC. The respective Board (PGMEB or UGMEB) undertakes the evaluation of the ADR as and when deemed necessary for their assessment and otherwise," She added.

To ensure equitable to medical education across States and underserved regions, the Minister informed the parliament about the following key measures introduced under UGMSR, 2023 and PGMSR, 2023.

(i) Removal of the earlier mandatory land requirement, with provision for a unitary campus or a maximum of two campuses within a distance of 10 km between the medical college and the teaching hospital.

(ii) Adoption of a need-based approach for scaling infrastructure, equipment and manpower.

(iii) Permission to start PG courses with two seats with two faculty members without the earlier requirement of three faculty members and a senior resident.

(iv) Provision enabling medical colleges to apply for starting PG courses one year after commencement of the undergraduate course, while Government Medical Colleges may start PG courses simultaneously with UG courses.

(d) The government has made concerted efforts on expanding the medical college infrastructure under various CSS Schemes over last one decade so that medical education becomes more equitable and accessible across States. The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare administers a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) for ‘Establishment of new medical colleges attached with existing district/referral hospitals’ with preference to underserved areas and aspirational districts, where there is no existing Government or private medical college. A total of 157 Medical Colleges have been approved in the various districts across the country. Further, support has also been provided for Strengthening/Upgradation of existing Sate Government/Central Government medical colleges to increase the number of MBBS (UG) and PG seats under another CSS Scheme. Under these schemes, additional 4977 MBBS seats and 8058 PG seats have been approved in medical colleges across the country.

தமிழ்நாடு டாக்டா் எம்ஜிஆா் மருத்துவ பல்கலை. 38-ஆவது பட்டமளிப்பு விழா: ஆளுநா் ரவி பட்டங்களை வழங்கினாா்

தமிழ்நாடு டாக்டா் எம்ஜிஆா் மருத்துவ பல்கலை. 38-ஆவது பட்டமளிப்பு விழா: ஆளுநா் ரவி பட்டங்களை வழங்கினாா்

தமிழ்நாடு டாக்டா் எம்ஜிஆா் மருத்துவப் பல்கலைக்கழகத்தின் 38-ஆவது பட்டமளிப்பு விழாவில் மருத்துவம், மருத்துவம் சாா்ந்த துணைப் படிப்புகளில் 50,159 போ் பட்டங்களைப் பெற்றனா்.

- SWAMINATHAN

Updated On :28 பிப்ரவரி 2026, 3:29 am

பகிர்:

தினமணி செய்திச் சேவை

தமிழ்நாடு டாக்டா் எம்ஜிஆா் மருத்துவப் பல்கலைக்கழகத்தின் 38-ஆவது பட்டமளிப்பு விழாவில் மருத்துவம், மருத்துவம் சாா்ந்த துணைப் படிப்புகளில் 50,159 போ் பட்டங்களைப் பெற்றனா்.

அதிக மதிப்பெண் பெற்ற மாணவா்களுக்கு ஆளுநா் ஆா்.என்.ரவி பட்டங்களை வழங்கினாா்.

சென்னை கிண்டியில் உள்ள தமிழ்நாடு டாக்டா் எம்.ஜி.ஆா். மருத்துவப் பல்கலை. வளாகத்தில் 38-ஆவது பட்டமளிப்பு விழா ஆளுநா் ஆா்.என். ரவி தலைமையில் வெள்ளிக்கிழமை நடைபெற்றது. இதில், மருத்துவத்தில், 12,016 பேரும், பல் மருத்துவத்தில் 2,569 பேரும், இந்தியமுறை மருத்துவத்தில், 3,269 பேரும், மருத்துவம் சாா்ந்த துணைப் படிப்புகளில் 32,305 போ் என 50,159 போ் பட்டங்களை பெற்றனா்.

குறிப்பாக, 144 போ் தங்கப் பதக்கமும், 42 போ் வெள்ளிப் பதக்கமும், 51 போ் அறக்கட்டளை சான்றிதழும், 166 போ் பல்கலை. சாா்பிலான பதக்கங்கள் என 353 போ் பெற்றனா். சென்னை கீழ்ப்பாக்கம் அரசு மருத்துவக் கல்லூரியில் எம்பிபிஎஸ் படித்த சுவேதா என்ற மாணவி, ஒன்பது பதக்கங்களைப் பெற்றாா். அதேபோல், முதுநிலை பட்டம் பெற்ற சுருதி, நிரஞ்சனா, ஆஷா ஆகியோா் தலா 6 பதக்கங்களைப் பெற்றனா். மாணவா்களுக்கான பட்டங்கள், பதக்கங்களை ஆளுநா் ஆா்.என்.ரவி வழங்கினாா்.

பட்டமளிப்பு விழாவில் பல்கலை. துணைவேந்தா் நாராயணசாமி பேசியதாவது: தமிழ்நாடு டாக்டா் எம்ஜிஆா் மருத்துவப் பல்கலையில். புதிய ஆராய்ச்சிகளுக்கு முக்கியத்துவம் அளிக்கப்படுகிறது. மாணவா்களின் ஆராய்ச்சியை ஊக்குவிக்கும் வகையில், சிறப்பாக செயலாற்றும் மாணவருக்கு ரூ.50 ஆயிரம் ஊக்கத்தொகை வழங்கப்படுகிறது. அத்துடன், 75 ஆராய்ச்சி கட்டுரைகள் வெளியிடப்பட்டு இருப்பதுடன், ஐந்துக்கு காப்புரிமை கோரப்பட்டுள்ளது.

மருத்துவ அறிவியலுடன், தொழில்நுட்ப கற்றலை ஊக்குவிக்கும் வகையில், அண்ணா பல்கலை, சென்னை ஐஐடி, வேலூா் தொழில்நுட்பக் கல்லுாரி நிறுவனத்துடன் இணைந்து பணியாற்றி வருகிறோம். குறிப்பாக, செயற்கை நுண்ணறிவு சாா்ந்த மருத்துவப் படிப்புகளும் ஊக்குவிக்கப்படுகிறது. கடந்தாண்டு பள்ளி மாணவா்களிடையே, புதுமை, ஆராய்ச்சி மற்றும் அறிவியல் சிந்தனையின் ஆரம்பகால ஆா்வத்தை வளா்ப்பதை நோக்கமாக கொண்டு விழிப்புணா்வு கருத்தரங்கம் நடத்தப்பட்டு, மாணவா்களிடையே வரவேற்பைப் பெற்றது என்றாா்.

அமைச்சா் பங்கேற்கவில்லை...: பட்டமளிப்பு விழாவில் காய்ச்சல் காரணமாக மருத்துவமனையில் அனுமதிக்கப்பட்டுள்ள மக்கள் நல்வாழ்வு துறை அமைச்சா் மா.சுப்பிரமணியன், பங்கேற்க முடியாத நிலையில், அத்துறைச் செயலா் செந்தில்குமாருக்கு அழைப்பு விடுக்கப்பட்டிருந்தது. ஆனால், அவரும் விழாவில் பங்கேற்காமல் புறக்கணித்தாா்.

Patenting can never be just an academic exercise: Experts

Patenting can never be just an academic exercise: Experts 

Others are little better, leading an expert from Ambattur, Tamil Nadu, who analysed the data, to wonder, “Are patents being filed as innovation assets or as metrics for rankings and visibility?” Galgotias University, which exhibited a Chinese dogbot at the India AI Impact summit, published 2,233 patents over five years but secured two grants. A sharper focus on 20202023 outcomes (as it takes an average two years to grant a patent under the expedited route) shows even wider disparity. The IITs presented 3,331 patent publications and got 2,118 patents, pushing the success rate to 64%. 

The IISc successfully converted 257 of its 379 applications in 20202023, an approval rate of nearly 68%. For Lovely Professional University, the picture was barely any better in that period: 5,774 publications, 164 grants, and a success rate of a mere 2.8%. Chandigarh University shows a sharper skew—5,318 filings since 2020, only 45 grants overall. In 2023, it published 2,350 patents and received 44, a success rate of 1.87%. 

The National Institutes of Technology collectively published 2,333 patent applications in 2020- 2025 and secured 949 grants, a success rate of 41%. In 2020-2023, 933 of NITs’ patent publications yielded 626 grants, a success rate of 67.1%, comparable to India’s top public research universities. For serious innovation, according to education experts, patenting can never be just an academic exercise as it requires sustained financial investment in labs, hiring of researchers and legal support to achieve successful conversion and technology transfer. Currently, several privately-run institutions appear to be filing for patents on an industrial scale but have almost nothing to show on conversion. Galgotias University had filed 1,752 applications in 2020-2023 and received none. 

Shobhit Institute of Engineering and Technology has a similar story: 961 filings, zero approvals—both cumulatively and in2020-2023. 

Pvt univs file more patents but IITs, IISc win more nods 

Mumbai : India’s research story in higher education is often told through the rise in patent applications. However, a closer reading of data—from the India Patent Office for 2020-2025— suggests a more uncomfortable reality: the system increasingly rewards activity, not outcomes. The Indian Institutes of Technology, collectively, filed for 6,558 patents and got 2,806, an approval rate of 43%. 

The premier Indian Institute of Science mirrors this trajectory, as do the NITs, reports Hemali Chhapia. Now compare this with high-volume private universities. Lovely Professional University leads in numbers with 7,096 patent applications over five years. Yet only 164 granted, a success rate of 2.3%. The IITs presented 3,331 patent publications and got 2,118 patents, pushing the success rate to 64%.

Guv’s nominee walks out; BDU forms new panel

Guv’s nominee walks out; BDU forms new panel 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK  22.02.2026

Trichy : More than 10 days after the governor’s syndicate nominee in the panel for scrutiny of registrar, controller of examinations, and director for centre of distance education appointments at Bharathidasan University walked out, the university administration cancelled the panel and ordered the formation of a fresh committee. S Amudha, the governor’s committee had walked out on Feb 9 over the issue of marking certain candidates as ‘non-eligible’. In this backdrop, an official communication from the university sent on Feb 20 to the members concerned stated the existing committee had been cancelled for “administrative reasons” and a fresh committee constituted. The new committee, is scheduled to meet on March 3.

Section of Anna University PhD scholars excluded from convocation

Section of Anna University PhD scholars excluded from convocation

Scholars who completed their viva after this date will be awarded degrees at a separate function later in February, the date of which is yet to be announced.

Binita Jaiswal

Updated on:

03 Feb 2026, 8:31 am

CHENNAI: A section of PhD scholars from Anna University who completed their viva-voce after June 2025 have expressed strong disappointment over the university’s decision to hold a separate degree-awarding function for them in February, instead of including them in the 46th annual convocation scheduled for February 4.

According to a circular issued by the university, only scholars who successfully defended their PhD viva-voce on or before June 30, 2025, will be permitted to receive their degrees in person at the main convocation ceremony. Scholars who completed their viva after this date will be awarded degrees at a separate function later in February, the date of which is yet to be announced.

The decision has left many scholars upset, as the February event will feature a chief guest or the governor, who is traditionally the chancellor of the university. “For many of us, convocation is the most memorable day of our academic life. We worked for years with the hope of receiving the degree on stage in a grand event in front of a chief guest. A separate, low-key function takes away the emotion and recognition associated with that moment,” said a PhD scholar who completed her viva in July 2025.

University officials, however, defended the move, citing logistical constraints. A senior varsity official said the last convocation was held in 2024 and the number of eligible scholars this year has risen sharply. “We can accommodate only about 750 candidates in a single convocation ceremony. Given the large backlog and venue limitations, it is not feasible to include everyone on the same day. Hence, a separate function is being planned to ensure all scholars receive their degrees in person,” the official said.

துணைவேந்தா்கள் நியமனம்: தேடல் குழு பதவிக் காலம் நீட்டிப்பு நடவடிக்கையை கைவிட ஆளுநா் அறிவுறுத்தல்

தமிழ்நாடு

துணைவேந்தா்கள் நியமனம்: தேடல் குழு பதவிக் காலம் நீட்டிப்பு நடவடிக்கையை கைவிட ஆளுநா் அறிவுறுத்தல்

தமிழகத்தின் 3 பல்கலைக்கழகங்களின் துணைவேந்தா் நியமனத்துக்கு அமைக்கப்பட்ட தோ்வுக் குழுக்களின் பதவிக் காலத்தை தமிழக அரசு நீட்டிக்கும் நடவடிக்கையை உடனடியாக நிறுத்த ஆளுநா் ஆா்.என்.ரவி அறிவுறுத்தல்

ஆளுநா் ஆா்.என். ரவிகோப்புப் படம்

தினமணி செய்திச் சேவை

Updated on:

03 பிப்ரவரி 2026, 2:43 am

தமிழகத்தின் மூன்று பல்கலைக்கழகங்களின் துணைவேந்தா் நியமனத்துக்கு அமைக்கப்பட்ட தோ்வுக் குழுக்களின் பதவிக் காலத்தை தமிழக அரசு நீட்டித்திருப்பது நீதிமன்ற உத்தரவுகளுக்கு முரணானது; இந்த நடவடிக்கையை உடனடியாக நிறுத்த வேண்டும் என தமிழக அரசை ஆளுநா் ஆா்.என்.ரவி கேட்டுக்கொண்டுள்ளாா்.

இதுகுறித்து ஆளுநா் மாளிகை செவ்வாய்க்கிழமை வெளியிட்ட செய்திக்குறிப்பு: பாரதியாா் பல்கலைக்கழகம், பாரதிதாசன் பல்கலைக்கழகம் மற்றும் பெரியாா் பல்கலைக்கழகம் போன்ற சில தமிழக அரசின் பல்கலைக்கழகங்களுக்கு துணைவேந்தா் நியமனம் செய்வதற்கான பெயரை பரிந்துரைப்பதற்கான தேடல் குழுக்களுக்கு வழங்கப்பட்ட பதவிக் காலம் நீட்டிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது தொடா்பான சட்ட நிலைப்பாட்டை ஆளுநா் மாளிகை பதிவு செய்ய விரும்புகிறது.

தமிழக பல்கலைக்கழக துணைவேந்தா்களை நியமிக்க சட்டபூா்வ விதிகளுக்கு இணங்க, முறையாக அமைக்கப்பட்ட தேடல் குழுக்கள் பரிந்துரைக்கும் மூன்று பெயா்களைக் கொண்ட பட்டியலிருந்து ஒருவரை வேந்தரே (ஆளுநா்) தோ்வு செய்து துணைவேந்தராக நியமிக்கப்பட்டு வந்துள்ளனா்.

இந்நிலையில், பல்கலைக்கழகச் சட்டங்களில் சில திருத்தங்களைச் செய்த தமிழக அரசு, துணைவேந்தா்களை நியமிக்கும் அதிகாரம் அரசுக்கு உள்ளது என திருத்தம் கொண்டு வந்தது. இதை எதிா்த்து உயா்நீதிமன்றத்தில் வழக்கு தொடரப்பட்டு, துணைவேந்தா்களை நியமிக்கும் அதிகாரத்தை வேந்தரிடமிருந்து (ஆளுநா்) பறித்து, அதை அரசிடம் ஒப்படைக்கும் சட்டத் திருத்தத்துக்கு சென்னை உயா்நீதிமன்றம் தடை விதித்துள்ளது.

இந்நிலையில் தமிழக பல்கலைக்கழகங்கள் துணைவேந்தா் பதவிக்கு நியமனம் செய்வதற்கான பெயரைப் பரிந்துரைக்கவும், தேடல் குழுக்களின் பதவிக் காலத்தை நீட்டித்து 21.03.2026 வரை கூடுதல் அவகாசம் அளித்தும் தமிழக அரசு உத்தரவுகளை பிறப்பித்துள்ளது. மேலும், பெரியாா், பாரதிதாசன் பல்கலைக்கழகங்களுக்கு சட்டவிரோதமாக அமைக்கப்பட்ட தேடல் குழுகள், துணைவேந்தரைத் தோ்ந்தெடுப்பதற்காக பட்டியலிடப்பட்ட வேட்பாளா்களுடன் கடந்த 24.01.2026 மற்றும் 27.01.2026 ஆகிய தேதிகளில் கலந்துரையாடல்களையும் நடத்தியுள்ளது.

வழக்குகள் நிலுவையில் உள்ள நிலையில், தேடல் குழுக்களின் பதவிக் காலத்தை நீட்டிக்கும் மாநில அரசின் நடவடிக்கை, நீதிமன்றங்களின் உத்தரவுகளை மீறுவதாகும்.

இதனால் ஆளுநா்-வேந்தரால் பரிந்துரைத்தபடி தேடல் குழுவில் யுஜிசி தலைவரின் வேட்பாளரைச் சோ்க்க உடனடியாக உத்தரவுகளைப் பிறப்பிக்க வேண்டும் அல்லது தற்போது அரசால் அமைக்கப்பட்ட தேடல் குழுக்களின் செயல்பாட்டையும், துணைவேந்தா்களைத் தோ்ந்தெடுத்து நியமிப்பதற்கான அனைத்து நடவடிக்கைகளையும் உடனடியாக நிறுத்தி வைக்க வேண்டும் என தமிழக அரசை வேந்தரான தமிழக ஆளுநா் கேட்டுக் கொண்டுள்ளாா் என அதில் தெரிவிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

‘Will divide society’: SC stays new UGC equity regulations

‘Will divide society’: SC stays new UGC equity regulations 

‘Dangerous Impact On Goal Of Castelessness’ 

Dhananjay.Mahapatra@timesofindia.com 30.01.2026

New Delhi : Supreme Court put on hold on Thursday the UGC (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2026, taking serious exception to several of its provisions and saying that these could fuel societal division and have a dangerous impact on the goal of a casteless society. A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi heard three petitions and said that while implementation of the 2026 regulations would be on hold till further orders, the 2012 regulations would continue to be in force to address grievances relating to caste-based discrimination against students on campuses of educational institutions.

 “We are sorry to say, the Regulations, prima facie, the language is completely vague, the provisions are capable of being misused, and the language needs to be re-modulated and redesigned,” the bench said and asked for the setting up of an expert panel. The CJI said, “In the country, after 75 years, whatever we have gained to move towards the goal of casteless society, are we enacting a regressive policy?” The justices said that while they were all for regulations for creation of “a free, inclusive and an equitable atmosphere in universities… there are 4-5 serious concerns. If those are not addressed, the regulations will otherwise have sweeping consequences...” 

The CJI flagged another provision in the regulations as problematic, pointing out that it proposed separate hostels based on the caste of students.

Should not go to a stage that has segregated schools: SC 

For God’s sake, please do not do that. In hostels, students from every community live together. There are inter-caste marriages also. We should move towards a casteless society by assimilating students of all regions and (students of) all castes must have equal rights and live harmoniously in universities. We cannot go backwards. There must not be any segregation.” The hearing took place amid agitation by sections of upper-caste students against the regulations for allegedly being discriminatory and exclusionary and for being oblivious to the changed socioeconomic milieu where newly empowered OBCs have also been accused of discriminating against others, including those from upper castes. Significantly, OBCs are not under purview of 2012 regulations, which snap back in action after SC’s order Thursday. 

Leading the arguments for petitioners, advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain said the regulations presume that only a certain category of students belonging to certain castes face discrimination in universities. They keep general category candidates outside their purview, leaving such students without remedies for discrimination faced by them. Asking Centre and UGC to respond to petitions by March 19, SC said, “We want to examine constitutional validity and legality of 2026 Regulations. We would like Union govt, with concurrence and approval of court, to constitute apanel of experts comprising eminent academicians and scholars who understand our social conditions to study regulations & its possible impacts.”

SC agrees to hear plea against UGC’s new equity regulations

SC agrees to hear plea against UGC’s new equity regulations 

New Delhi : 29.01.2026

Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to list for hearing a plea challenging a recently notified UGC regulation on the grounds that it had adopted a non-inclusionary definition of caste-based discrimination and excluded certain categories from institutional protection. A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi took note of the submissions of a lawyer seeking urgent hearing of the plea. “There is a possibility of discrimination against the general class. My case is ‘Rahul Dewan and Ors vs Union’,” a lawyer said. The CJI said: “We know what is happening. Make sure defects are cured. We will list it.” The new regulations mandating all higher education institutions to form “equity committees” to look into discrimination complaints and promote equity were notified on Jan 13. University Grants Commission (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2026, mandated that these committees include members of OBC, SC and ST communities, persons with disabilities, and women. The new regulations replace UGC (Promotion of Equity in Higher Educational Institutions) Regulations, 2012, which was largely advisory in nature. The plea assailed the regulations on the grounds that castebased discrimination was defined strictly as discrimination against SC, ST and OBC community members. It said that by limiting the scope only to these categories, UGC had effectively denied institutional protection and grievance redress to individuals belonging to the “general” or non-reserved categories, who may also face harassment based on their caste identity. Protests were held in various places, with student groups demanding rollback of the regulations. PTI

Staff crunch: Most univs operate at 50%

Staff crunch: Most univs operate at 50% 

V.Srivatsal@timesofindia.com 22.01.2026

Trichy : Data from 21 state universities received under an RTI petition shows most institutions are functioning with around 50% vacancies. A few, including Madras University, have vacancies as high as 65% of sanctioned strength across ranks of professor, associate professor and assistant professor. 

Fourteen universities fall in 40–50% vacancy range, with TN physical education and sports university at 56%, Manonmaniam Sundaranar university at 50% and Bharathidasan university at 49%. With double-digit retirements expected in 2026 and 2027, the situation could worsen. 

Bharathiar university is the only institution with relatively lower vacancies at 15%, though it is also set to see over 20 retirements by 2026–27, says the RTI data collected by an activist between Apr and various months of 2025. Sources said the last major recruitment drive across state universities was carried out in 2014. “It is not just this govt, but the previous govt as well. Steps will have to be taken to address this at the earliest, as it affects students’ education. If there are not enough qualified staff, how can quality education be delivered,” said former Madras university V-C P Duraisamy. There are 335 vacancies against a sanctioned strength of 515 at the university. 

“Guest faculty are engaged to bridge the gap. While many of them are competent, they are not recognised as regular employees and therefore cannot take up several academic responsibilities. They are not permitted to guide research scholars or formally present projects and papers, affecting the research output a regular staff may have added. The shortage of regular staff also affects formation of committees with diverse representation, resulting in same individuals being repeatedly nominated to university and govt committees,” said a senior retired professor from BDU. 

Former AUT president K Pandiyan said the crisis is financial. “UGC restrictions on distance education reduced income. For years, TN withheld block grants from institutions earning higher

revenues. Grants were restored after 2019, but it didn’t help. Poor recruitment in the past affected research inflows, while corruption, administrative lapses and nepotism weakened things,” he said.

Universities rush to file patents for rankings, few acquire commercial value

Universities rush to file patents for rankings, few acquire commercial value 

Experts urge dismantling siloed research ecosystem to accelerate lab-tomarket transition of technologies 

Divyansh.Kumar@timesofindia.com 12.01.2026

Indian universities are producing an impressive volume of patents, yet most innovations never leave the labs to be used as a valuable product in market or industry. Form-27 (statement of working) submitted at the Indian Patent Office (IPO) has noticed a dip in the commercially viable patents, 16,000 to just 560 in the past five years. Experts highlight that roughly 96% of patents filed have been deemed commercially unviable. 

Indian universities file patents that look remarkable on paper but do not find value in the industry. For education leaders, policymakers, and researchers, the number of patents filed are solely for getting a place in international and Indian ranking frameworks. “A patent is often treated as the finish line, while it is only a milestone in a long journey of engineering, validation, manufacturability, standards, user behaviour, and cost,” says Prof V Ramgopal Rao, group vicechancellor, BITS Pilani and former director, IIT Delhi. The problem is not solely related to restricted funding but largely associated with identifying the market value. “We have built an academic system that celebrates novelty on paper, but does not equally reward the hard, iterative, sometimes messy work of translation,”he says. 

Globally, only about 5-10% of patents are successfully commercialised. At Indian campuses the picture is hardly better. NIT Rourkela (NIT-R), which secured 13th position in the Engineering category in 2025 NIRF rankings, reports a conversion rate of just 1015%, meaning roughly nine out of every ten campus patents do not reach the market. Prof Swadesh Kumar Pratihar, dean  (Sponsored Research), NIT-R, cites a lack of translational research as the primary reason. “The lack of translational research at an institute forces the patent to become just a novel idea or a proof-of-concept and doesn’t contain the commercialisation blueprint. To turn that idea into a technology, we need to integrate multiple disciplines,” adds Prof Pratihar. There is a surge in patent filings from private universities, which sometimes exceeds the combined output of all IITs. 

The disconnect between filings and utility, experts argue, is driven by structural and cultural factors. One reason is incentive design. Rankings and accreditation frameworks such as NIRF and NAAC currently reward patent counts and similar outputs — a system that some HEIs appear to exploit. “NIRF has a specific category for ‘Innovation’ where patents carry a much higher weightage. This creates a powerful incentive for universities to file as many patents as possible to climb the rankings, rather than focusing on impactful, marketable projects,” says Achal Agrawal, data scientist and founder, Indian Research Watch. Highlighting the absurdity of the current surge in patent filings, Agrawal adds, “Last year, close to one lakh patents were approved, up from 30,000 in previous years.” Valley of Death The core of the crisis lies in the ‘finish line’ mentality. Many HEIs treat a patent grant as the end of the journey, rewarding faculty for the filing while ignoring the hard, iterative engineering required to turn IP into a product. Most Indian academic research stalls at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 3 or 4 (Proof of Concept). Industry, however, only begins to take interest at TRL 7 or 8 (Operational Demonstration). This ‘Valley of Death’ is where inventions go to die given the territorial nature of Indian labs. 

“Traditionally, research in India has been siloed. Successful commercialisation of a patent requires to bring together different minds. The approach of integrating engineering, business, and design needs to be institutionalised in our HEIs,” adds Prof Pratihar. NIT-R is attempting to break that mould with a centralised equipment booking system giving first-year students and senior researchers equal access to high-end tools. Prof Rao warns that celebration of filings without follow-through turns patents into paperwork rather than pathways. “What is missing is milestone-linked translational funding that pays for iteration, testing, product engineering, and field pilots, not just the first prototype,” he adds. Agrawal stresses that India loses many of its brightest researchers to industry because academic salaries and conditions for PhDs remain uncompetitive. “Companies prefer their own employees’ research because they perceive a skill gap in academic labs,” he says, adding, “In Europe, companies often fund PhDs directly, creating immediate bridges between lab and market. Such models are worth emulation.

Prez returns Madras varsity bill

Prez returns Madras varsity bill 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK 30.12.2025

Chennai : President Droupadi Murmu has returned the bill passed by the Tamil Nadu Assembly in 2022 amending the Madras University Act, 1923, to empower the state govt to appoint and remove the vice-chancellor of the University of Madras. This power is now vested with the governor, who is the chancellor of the state university. Sources in the higher education department said the President returned the bill a few days ago.

The Tamil Nadu assembly had passed two bills to amend the laws governing 13 state universities to empower the state govt to appoint vice-chancellors. In view of the delay in giving approval to these bills by the governor, Supreme Court deemed 10 bills as assented to by the governor and empowered the state govt to appoint vicechancellors. However, Madras high court stayed process of appointment of vice-chancellors to state universities. The amendment to Madras University Act, 1923, which empowered the state govt to remove the vice-chancellor, needed assent from the President as the act was passed before Independence.

No V-C since 2003,  Madras univ sans V-C since 2023 The bill said, “The vice-chancellor shall not be removed from his office except by an order of the government passed on the ground of wilful omission or refusal to carry out the provisions of this Act or abuse of the powers vested in him.” It further stated that govt shall order an inquiry by a judge of the high court or an officer not below the rank of chief secretary in a case where it proposed to remove the V-C. It also said the vice-chancellor shall be given an opportunity to make a representation. In the statement of objects and reasons of the bills, then higher education minister 

Ponmudy said that in the Gujarat University Act, 1949, and the Telangana Universities Act, 1991, the respective state govt has the power to appoint vice-chancellors of universities. The University of Madras has been functioning without a V-C since August 2023 due to a tussle between the Governor and state govt on appointing a UGC nominee in the V-C search committees.

Stiff penalties mark big policy shift in regulating higher education

Stiff penalties mark big policy shift in regulating higher education

Manash.Gohain@timesofindia.com 16.12.2025

New Delhi : For the first time, the govt has proposed a graded penalty regime for higher education institutions, with fines ranging from ₹10 lakh to ₹75 lakh for repeated violations, suspension of degree-awarding powers and closure, while illegal institutions could face a ₹2 crore penalty and immediate shutdown, with safeguards to protect enrolled students.

 The proposed Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill, 2025, placed in Lok Sabha marks a decisive shift in how higher education institutions will be regulated, moving away from advisory nudges to a system driven by statutory penalties, mandatory transparency and accreditationlinked autonomy. Under the graded penalty framework — proposed with hard financial consequences for regulatory violations — institutions found violating provisions of the law or its regulations could face fines starting at ₹10 lakh, escalating to ₹30 lakh for repeat offences, and going up to ₹75 lakh for persistent violations. 

In extreme cases, regulators can recommend suspension of degree-awarding powers, withdrawal of affiliation or even closure. Every year the UGC, which will cease to exist, used to notify a list of fake universities, but beyond that no action could be initiated and they continued to function at the cost of unsuspecting students, many of whom were left with invalid degrees and financial losses. The bill introduced a ₹2 crore penalty for unauthorised institutions operating without govt approval, along with immediate closure

No admission to SSN college of engineering from next year

No admission to SSN college of engineering from next year

 Ragu.Raman@timesofindia.com 16.12.2025

Chennai : Sri Sivasubramaniya Nadar (SSN) College of Engineering in Chennai announced on Monday that it will not accept applications for admissions for the next academic year (2026-27). The college received approval for progressive closure from Anna University and the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE). The premier college will be merged with Shiv Nadar University Chennai, which is functioning on the adjacent campus, in a phased manner.

 “SSN College of Engineering is no longer accepting applications. Please apply for similar programmes to the SSN School of Engineering at Shiv Nadar University Chennai (SNUC),” an announcement on the college website said. It also released frequently asked questions (FAQs) to clarify the doubts of parents and students who are enrolled in the college. 

“As of now, the SSN College has more than 4,800 students, including UG, PG students, and research scholars. These students will receive their degrees from Anna University as the closure will be progressive. There will be no new admissions from 2026-27,” a source in the college said. 

Students aspiring for admissions to BTech and MTech programmes in the SSN School of Engineering under Shiv Nadar University Chennai will have to take an entrance test and interview. SSN College of Engineering is an autonomous college under Anna University and fills 65% of its seats through online counselling, which is based on Class XII marks in maths, chemistry, and physics. 

These students pay ₹55,000 as tuition fees for govt quota seats. The tuition fees for BTech programmes at Shiv Nadar University is ₹3.5 lakh. However, the university announced that the fee structure for current students at SSN College of Engineering will continue as per the prevailing norms applicable to their batch. 

Further, it also

said faculty members will continue teaching until all students complete their programmes. “The academic norms as per the prevailing Anna University regulations will continue to apply if a student has arrears or backlog after the last batch graduates,” the college further said.

Kristu Jayanti university inaugural today

Kristu Jayanti university inaugural today 

DEEMED-TO-BE TAG 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK  15.12.2025  BANGALURU

Bengaluru : Kristu Jayanti (deemed-to-be university), Bengaluru, will host its grand inaugural celebrations Monday at the university’s main campus. This event is being held after its recognition as a “deemed to be university” by the Union education ministry. The inaugural ceremony will bring together eminent dignitaries from the fields of higher education, governance, and administration, along with staff members, students, alumni, and stakeholders to mark the institution’s transformation and its commitment to excellence in higher education, research, and community development. It will also highlight its vision for nationbuilding through knowledge, innovation, and values

UGC, AICTE, NCTE to be replaced: Cabinet clears India's biggest edu overhaul bill

UGC, AICTE, NCTE to be replaced: Cabinet clears India's biggest edu overhaul bill

The Union Cabinet has approved the HECI Bill, now renamed Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhikshan Bill, paving the way for a single higher education regulator to replace the UGC, AICTE, and NCTE. The new body will handle regulation, accreditation, and standards as proposed under NEP 2020, marking a major overhaul of India's higher education system.

The Union Cabinet has approved the HECI Bill, now renamed Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhikshan Bill/

India Today Education Desk

New Delhi,UPDATED: Dec 12, 2025 22:52 IST

Indian higher education is about to get its biggest structural makeover in decades. The Union Cabinet has cleared a landmark bill to set up a single higher education regulator that will replace the UGC, AICTE, and NCTE — bringing all non-medical and non-law higher education under one powerful umbrella.

The proposed law, earlier known as the Higher Education Commission of India (HECI) Bill, has now been renamed the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhikshan Bill.

Approved on Friday, the bill fulfils a core National Education Policy (NEP 2020) vision: streamlining a sector currently governed by multiple regulators with overlapping functions.

Under the new system, the Commission will take over regulation, accreditation, and setting professional standards across higher education. Medical and law colleges remain outside its scope. Interestingly, funding — considered the fourth pillar — will not fall under the new regulator for now and will remain with the administrative ministry.

Unless the government creates a separate Higher Education Funding Authority later (as once proposed in NEP drafts), the current arrangement will continue wherein the education ministry's Department of Higher Education will oversee funding.

For decades, India’s higher education ecosystem has been split across agencies:UGC regulates non-technical higher education. AICTE oversees technical education. NCTE manages teacher education

The NEP-2020 had called the regulatory system “in need of a complete overhaul”, stressing the need for distinct, empowered bodies handling distinct roles.

Efforts to create a single regulator began with the draft HECI Bill released in 2018, but momentum picked up again after Dharmendra Pradhan took charge as Education Minister in 2021. 

With Cabinet approval now in place, the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhikshan Commission moves a step closer to reshaping the future of Indian higher education.

SC orders all-India audit of pvt & deemed universities Focus On Structural Opacity & Examining Role Of Regulatory Bodies

SC orders all-India audit of pvt & deemed universities Focus On Structural Opacity & Examining Role Of Regulatory Bodies

 

Manash.Gohain@timesofindia.com New Delhi : 28.11.2025

Supreme Court has ordered an unprecedented nationwide audit of all private and deemed universities, transforming a student grievance into a deep scrutiny of India’s sprawling higher education sector. In a sweeping directive, apex court has asked Centre, all states and UTs, and University Grants Commission (UGC) to submit personally sworn affidavits disclosing how these institutions were set up, who governs them, what regulatory approvals they hold, and whether they truly function on a notfor-profit basis. 

The move comes in response to a petition filed by a student of Amity University, Ayesha Jain, who alleged the institution harassed and barred her from attending classes after she legally changed her name. What began as a single case of administrative apathy has now turned into a judicial inquisition into the governance and financial practices of the entire private university ecosystem. 

Supreme Court’s focus is clear — expose the structural opacity and examine whether regulatory bodies like UGC have adequately performed their role. Past interventions show this isn’t unfamiliar terrain. In 2005, the court struck down Chhattisgarh Private Universities Act that had allowed over 100 shell institutions to operate without basic academic infrastructure. 

In 2009, a central review found 44 deemed universities unfit for their status due to poor academic and governance standards. In 2017, a Supreme Court verdict invalidated engineering degrees awarded via unapproved distance mode by deemed universities and barred them from conducting such courses without clear regulatory approval. This current review cuts deeper. It questions how private universities acquire land, appoint leadership, handle finances, and whether they have credible grievance redressal mechanisms.

 The demand for personal accountability — from chief secretaries to the UGC chairperson — signals judicial impatience with the status quo. A UGC official, on condition of anonymity, acknowledged: “There have been longstanding compliance gaps. This is a chance to restore public trust.” The official added that in the current case, the commission “in fact recommended the university to consider the name change request”. 

Private universities, many of which operate under different state and central laws, are rattled. “This is a sweeping brush,” said a vice chancellor of a reputed state private university. “We support transparency, but we also fear being tarred with the same brush as a few errant institutions.” Observers see timing in the court’s action. Higher Education Commission of India (HECI) Bill, intended to overhaul regulation and merge UGC, AICTE, and others under one roof, is expected in the upcoming Parliament session.

 “An issue concerning a private university legislated by state law is now expanded to rope in all private deemed universities governed by separate regulations under a central law. In a similar exercise, in 2017 in the case of Orissa Lift case, an issue concerning four deemed universities affected all in an irreversible manner. With HECI round the corner, it is hoped that the present issue finds a policy solution through HECI Bill,” said an academic policy expert.

Supreme Court orders nationwide audit of private universities after Amity University harasses student for changing her name

Supreme Court orders nationwide audit of private universities after Amity University harasses student for changing her name 

The student claimed that university officials harassed her, barred her from attending classes and even taunted her over her religion.

Supreme Court. 27.11.2025

Ritwik Choudhury Published on: 26 Nov 2025, 6:14 pm 4 min read Follow Us The Supreme Court recently directed the Union government, all States and Union Territories, and the University Grants Commission (UGC) to disclose how private universities across the country were established, regulated and monitored [Ayesha Jain vs. Amity University, Noida & Ors.].

A Bench of Justices Ahsanuddin Amanullah and NV Anjaria said it was necessary, in the larger public interest, to examine how private universities were created, the statutory framework under which they function and the benefits granted to them by governments.

It directed all governments to file comprehensive affidavits detailing the background, legal basis, and financial or administrative benefits extended to private universities, including land allotments and preferential treatment.

The Court also sought information on who actually controls and manages these institutions, and how their governing bodies are constituted.

Justices Ahsanuddin Amanullah and NV Anjaria The Bench was hearing a petition by 23-year-old student, one Ayesha Jain, who approached the Court after Amity University allegedly refused to change her name in its rolls despite her furnishing all legal documents. She claimed that university officials harassed her, barred her from attending classes and even taunted her for changing her name to a muslim name.

Her petition detailed a series of complaints made to the UGC and the Ministry of Education, alleging that despite their intervention, the university refused to take corrective action.

The petition also accused Amity of misusing its authority and said that she lost a year of studies because of its conduct.

The controversy dates back to 2021, when the petitioner changed her name from Khushi Jain to Ayesha Jain and published it in the Gazette of India. In 2023, she completed a certificate course at Amity Finishing School under her new name and later joined Amity Business School for an MBA (Entrepreneurship) programme in 2024. However, the university allegedly refused to update her records, preventing her from attending classes and sitting for exams.

After multiple unanswered representations and complaints, Jain approached the Supreme Court in mid-2025, accusing the university of arbitrariness and discrimination.

During earlier hearings, the Court had expressed strong disapproval of the university’s conduct. On October 9, it directed Amity’s chairman and vice-chancellor to personally explain their position.

When the matter was next heard on October 14, the Court remarked that the university had made a “mockery” of its orders after it attempted to tender ₹1 lakh as compensation. It then directed the presence of Dr. Atul Chauhan, President of the Ritnand Balved Education Foundation (which runs Amity Universities), and the Vice-Chancellor at the next hearing.

When the matter came up again on November 20, both officials were present before the Court and submitted their affidavits. However, instead of concluding the matter, the Bench expanded its scope significantly, observing that the issues involved in the case carried wider implications for governance and regulation of private higher education in India.

It emphasised that it wished to examine how private universities came into existence, what statutory provisions or notifications enabled their creation, and what benefits they receive from governments.

“The issues have now come before this Court, which the present coram has also deliberated in detail, in the larger public interest, it is deemed appropriate to examine the aspects relating to the creation/establishment/setting-up of all private Universities, either under the State Governments/Union Territories or the Central Government, and connected concerns,” it noted.

The Court then directed the Centre and all State and Union Territory administrations to disclose the legal basis under which each private, non-government or deemed university was established. The Court also sought complete information on the benefits granted to these institutions, including land allotments, statutory relaxations, preferential treatment and any financial or administrative concessions.

It further sought full details of the organisations and individuals who run such institutions, including the composition and selection process of their governing bodies.

“Full details of the concerned personnel connected with the establishment/management of such Universities shall be placed on record,” it said.

The UGC was also asked to explain its regulatory authority over private universities and the actual mechanism it follows to ensure compliance with statutory and policy requirements.

“The affidavit by the UGC shall cover what the statute/policy mandates as also the actual mechanism to monitor/oversee compliance by the institutions,” the Court said.

The order also called for disclosures on admissions policies, recruitment of faculty, checks on compliance with legal obligations, whether institutions claiming to operate on a “no profit, no loss” basis are doing so in reality, grievance redressal systems for students and faculty, and whether minimum statutory salaries are being paid.

The Court made the responsibility for these disclosures explicit.

“Responsibility for every disclosure and its correctness shall rest with the deponent concerned,” the Court said.

It underscored that any attempt to suppress or misrepresent facts would be viewed sternly.

“If there is any attempt to withhold, suppress, misrepresent or mis-state facts in the affidavits called for, this Court will be compelled to adopt a strict view,” the Bench said.

To ensure accountability at the highest level, the Court directed that the affidavits must be personally affirmed by the Cabinet Secretary of India, Chief Secretaries of all States and Union Territories, and the Chairman of the UGC, without any delegation.

The matter is slated for further hearing on January 8, 2026 when the Court is likely to examine the disclosures in detail.

The petitioner was represented by advocates Mohd Fuzail Khan and Shisba Chawla.

The respondents were represented by advocates Amitesh Kumar, Priti Kumari, Pankaj Kumar Ray, Abhinav Singh, Shashank Shekhar Singh, Parmanand Gaur, Vibhav Mishra and Megha Gaur.

Settle terminal benefits to ex-varsity staff: HC tells TN

Settle terminal benefits to ex-varsity staff: HC tells TN 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK 05.11.2025

Chennai : Terming as alarming the non-payment of terminal benefits and pension arrears to former staff and their families of Madras University to the tune of ₹95.44 crore, Madras high court directed the state and the university to take steps to settle the arrears. Relying on a report filed by the state on the total terminal and pension benefits payable from Apr 2015 to Sept 2025, Justice N Anand Venkatesh said, “It is clear from the above that a total of 87 teaching staff, 249 non-teaching staff, and 129 family pensioners are yet to be settled with the terminal benefits, which runs to the total tune of ₹95,44,21,085. 

“The above figures are quite alarming and the finance secretary of Tamil Nadu govt must necessarily come up with a solution to settle the entire pensionary benefits to the teaching staff, non-teaching staff, and family pensioners,” the judge said. The secretary, while filing a status report on an earlier occasion, took a stand that they would continue to extend their cooperation and guidance to ensure that there is timely disbursement of the pensionary dues. This commitment that was expressed before this court shall be translated into action by immediately allocating funds for settling the entire terminal benefits, the court added. The observations were made on a contempt of court petition.

Withdraw T.N. Private Universities (Amendment) Bill: former V-C

Withdraw T.N. Private Universities (Amendment) Bill: former V-C

E. Balagurusamy

The Hindu Bureau

Chennai 27.10.2025

Former Vice-Chancellor (V-C) of Anna University E. Balagurusamy has urged Chief Minister M.K. Stalin to withdraw the recently introduced Tamil Nadu Private Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2025.

In a letter to the Chief Minister on Sunday, a copy of which was shared with the media, he highlighted that the conversion of government-aided colleges to private universities would lead to the dilution of public control, uncertainty for faculty and staff, and possible withdrawal of government support. “The private university status can lead to a steep increase in fees, reducing access for students from economically and socially weaker sections who rely on affordable aided-college education,” he contended.

The State government on Saturday decided to review what Higher Education Minister Govi. Chezhiaan called the “Draft” Private Universities (Amendment) Bill, in response to pushback from teachers’ bodies and a section of MLAs. The Bill was passed by the Assembly on October 18. “The dilution of reservation policies and social justice measures threatens equitable access to higher education and undermines decades of progress in inclusive education,” Mr. Balagurusamy added, and 

urged the State to hold consultations with all stake-holders before introducing any amendments to the Act.

Top scientists flag corruption in NIRF rankings, urge overhaul of research metrics

Top scientists flag corruption in NIRF rankings, urge overhaul of research metrics

 Leading scientists warn that flawed NIRF methodology fuels low-quality publications, fake citations, and academic manipulation, threatening India's research credibility 

G.S. Mudur Published 13.10.25, 06:07 AM

University Grants Commission 

Leading Indian scientists have cautioned that government inaction on multiple appeals to reform an annual ranking exercise for higher education institutions introduced in 2016 threatens the quality and integrity of research in the country.

Scientists who wrote to the government four months ago, warning that the pursuit of high ranks in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) has fostered “corruption and unethical practices”, said on Sunday they have yet to see any response.

Their concerns are centred on the NIRF methodology, which includes certain quantitative metrics such as the number of research papers and citations those papers receive. Citations are intended to measure academic influence and credit prior research.

The current methodology grants scores even to students, faculty and institutions engaging in manipulative practices, such as publishing “casual” papers that don’t contribute meaningfully to knowledge, 11 leading scientists wrote in a letter to multiple government departments on June 8.

Advertisement Examples include surveys on eating habits or awareness among students about food. While such papers do little to advance knowledge or train students in research methods, they receive as much credit as serious research, the scientists said.

They also expressed concern that some institutions appear to have instructed students or faculty to cite the work of their own colleagues — whether the citation is relevant or not — adding to the institutions’ citation counts.

A paper on fruit and vegetable consumption published by students and faculty from one university, for instance, had cited a study on diesel engines by others in the same university.

“Such practices have made scientific research a number game… detrimental to the overall ecosystem and reputation of Indian science,” the signatories wrote in their letter sent to the University Grants Commission, the principal scientific adviser to the central government, and the secretary in the higher education department.

The signatories included Partha Majumder, past president of the Indian Academy of Sciences, H.A. Ranganath, former vice-chancellor of Bangalore University, and L.S. Shashidhara, director of the National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bangalore, among others. The letter follows similar concerns some scientists have articulated on other platforms.

“Aspiration for high NIRF rankings has bred abject misuse and an unimaginable system of corruption and unethical practices,” the scientists wrote, cautioning that the manipulative and gaming practices overlooked by the NIRF will undermine academic integrity and quality.

They have sought revisions in the methodology to provide greater weight to qualitative aspects of research output than to existing quantitative measures.

One option would be to rank all institutions through the existing quantitative measures, then evaluate them on qualitative measures through an additional screening process.

“Despite having drawn the attention of the relevant government authorities, no action against such practices has been rapidly implemented,” said Majumder, a population geneticist and the founder director of the National Institute of Biomedical Genomics, Kalyani.

Queries sent by this newspaper to the University Grants Commission and the department of higher education seeking their perspectives on these concerns have evoked no response.

The National Board of Accreditation, the agency that runs the NIRF, announced earlier this year that the NIRF exercise would introduce negative scores for retracted papers or for citations of tainted papers.

But many believe these steps aren’t sufficient to curb the unethical practices.

“Negative marks for retracted papers is a welcome move, but not enough to address the large numbers of casual papers being produced only to increase scores and that do not get retracted,” said a physicist in a government institution who requested anonymity.

In their letter, the scientists said the ranking system had turned into a business model with no relevance to academic quality or integrity, driven by manipulative practices and papers published in so-called “predatory” or “paper-mill” journals that publish anything for a fee.

Under this model, some institutions push students and faculty to publish in bulk, flooding predatory journals with low-quality papers that inflate scores and attract more students — a cycle scientists say must be broken.

The scientists said the practice of publishing papers in predatory or paper-mill journals is “so rampant” that India should formally treat publication in such journals as an unethical practice, leading to negative consequences on the career of researchers or profile of institutions.