A friend from Mumbai, disturbed by the Youth Congress protest at Bharat Mandapam linked to Rahul Gandhi, called to ask whether the Congress was protesting against the Modi government, objecting to an agreement with the United States, or angered by alleged irregularities involving a Chinese model at the AI World Conference.
I replied that the Congress’ opposition to Prime Minister Modi and the BJP is often framed as ideological, but the deeper concern may lie in scrutiny of its own past record. In the field of higher education, particularly private universities, that record has been deeply contentious.
After the formation of Chhattisgarh, the then Chief Minister Ajit Jogi introduced a law in 2002 allowing the state to recognise private universities through simple notification. Within a year, more than 100 private universities were approved — many lacking adequate land, faculty, laboratories or infrastructure. One was reportedly operating from a basement office. The episode became one of the most controversial chapters in Indian higher education.
A detailed investigation published at the time exposed the scale of irregularities. The law enabled the state to grant recognition without ensuring compliance with national standards, particularly those set by the University Grants Commission (UGC). The matter reached the Supreme Court after a public interest petition filed by former UGC chairman Yash Pal.
In 2005, the Supreme Court struck down the Chhattisgarh legislation and invalidated the recognition of several universities, ruling that establishing universities was not merely an administrative act but a matter of national academic importance. The court held that bypassing UGC procedures violated constitutional and regulatory norms and jeopardised students’ futures. The verdict served as a warning nationwide.
The controversy underscored that recognition alone is insufficient; transparency, monitoring and accountability are equally essential. Weak regulation risks corruption, erosion of standards and long-term social damage.
As for Galgotias University, it began as a local educational institution and gained private university status with UGC recognition in 2011, when the Congress-led government was in power at the Centre. Early controversies surfaced in 2004, when allegations emerged that the parent body had defaulted on loans exceeding 100 crore and used questionable documentation. Two family members were arrested and remanded to judicial custody, though the matter later moved to arbitration and repayment proceedings.
In recent years, students have also raised concerns about fees, administrative practices and management conduct, reflecting ongoing institutional challenges. The university recently clarified that a robot presented at an event had been purchased for academic experimentation, attributing the controversy to a presentation lapse.
Over the past two and a half decades, India’s higher education sector has expanded rapidly, driven by limited public capacity and rising demand. Private universities have often benefited from political and administrative backing across party lines. Once recognition is granted, de-recognition has rarely followed, as punitive action affecting students is politically sensitive.
Although the UGC has declared several private universities defaulters, issued warnings and published lists of fake institutions, critics argue that enforcement is frequently limited to notices. In 2023, ten private universities in Madhya Pradesh were declared defaulters for failing to comply with disclosure norms. In Rajasthan, three individuals, including two private university owners, were arrested in a fake degree and paper leak case.
A 2023 public interest litigation alleged certificate sales and irregular issuance of mark sheets by certain private universities, though calls for a CBI-level probe were rejected. Separately, the founder of AI-Falah University had earlier been convicted in a fraud case, and further serious matters are reportedly before the courts.
These episodes highlight systemic weaknesses rather than isolated lapses. If education is to remain the foundation of nation-building, private universities must operate under strict, transparent and impartial regulation. Without robust oversight, the commercialisation of higher education risks undermining both democratic values and long-term development.