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The Recent NAAC Bribery Arrests Are Just the Tip of the Iceberg – Every A++, A+, and A Grade is Questionable and Needs a CBI Audit

Updated: Feb 4

The Rot in NAAC: A Decade of First-Hand Experience in Higher Education Accreditation

I am happy that the Government has started taking action against the rot which has plagued the Education System.


NAAC Bribery Arrests
NAAC Bribery Arrests



But this is just the tip of the iceberg.

My Decade-Long Journey into the NAAC Maze


For the last 10 years, I have been working with hundreds of institutions, helping them achieve excellence. I have engaged with thousands of stakeholders—Chancellors, Vice-Chancellors, Chairmen, Deans, Directors, and faculty members—assisting them in digital transformation, and academic framework development.


I started this journey with a genuine (and possibly naïve) passion for improving the education sector, thinking that institutions genuinely wanted to uplift their quality standards to meet global benchmarks. Ah, the bliss of optimism! Little did I know, I had signed up for a front-row seat to an absurd circus where "quality assurance" was often just a well-orchestrated magic trick. What I encountered was far more shocking than even my most cynical assumptions.


Many campus chairmen and management heads mistook me for an accreditation "Consultant" rather than a Process Expert' working towards institutional improvement.


Numerous times, I was bluntly asked:

  • "Can you ensure an 'A+' grade in NAAC if we pay the right people?"

  • "Why are you suggesting academic improvements? Just tell us how much to pay and where!"

  • "Do you have links with NAAC peer review team members? Can we set up the right panel to evaluate us?"

  • "Other institutions got accreditation by just paying. Why are you making it so complicated?"


As my interactions with hundreds of institutions deepened, the murky reality of NAAC accreditation began to unfold before me. Out of curiosity and concern, I started probing deeper. What I discovered was a well-oiled machinery of corruption, where accreditation is often a business transaction rather than an evaluation of quality.


This was not a one-off incident—I have personally witnessed numerous cases over the past decade that expose the deep rot within NAAC's accreditation process.


Shocking Instances Over the Years


1. The "NAAC Fixer" Network

One of the first things I discovered was the existence of a parallel market of middlemen—individuals and agencies who guarantee NAAC accreditation in exchange for hefty sums. These brokers are well-connected with NAAC insiders, ensuring institutions get the grade they desire, rather than what they actually deserve.


One such agent, whom I encountered at an education summit, openly claimed:

"Why bother with complex documentation when I can get you NAAC ‘A++’ for ₹50 lakh? If you want a hassle-free process, let me handle it!"



2. The Peer Review Manipulation

At one institution where I was part of the advisory board, the Chairman casually mentioned:

"We have already selected our peer review team. They are our people. The report will be favorable."


At first, I was confused—isn't NAAC supposed to appoint independent peer reviewers? That’s when I learned how certain institutions influence the selection process to ensure that only friendly faces evaluate them.



3. Fabricated Research & Fake Data

Several institutions I worked with blatantly fabricated research output to boost their NAAC scores. Many:

  • Bought citations from agencies that provide fake indexed research.

  • Plagiarized research papers but still managed to get them published in reputed journals.

  • Manipulated placement records and student feedback data to meet NAAC standards.

One faculty member once admitted:

"I never even wrote this research paper, but it has my name because my university wanted higher points for accreditation!"



4. The Chairman Who Wanted an 'Instant' NAAC Grade

One particularly shameless case I came across was a Chairman who openly demanded:

"Just tell me how much money is required and who to contact. We don’t have time to follow procedures."


When I refused, he laughed and said:

"You are an idealist! Do you know how many colleges have already gotten NAAC accreditation this way?"



5. The Fake Campus Tour Set-Ups

I have witnessed institutions stage elaborate campus visits for NAAC peer reviewers, creating a false impression of academic quality. In some cases:

  • They hired temporary faculty just for the NAAC visit.

  • They rented high-end lab equipment for the day, only to return it afterward.

  • They coached students to give rehearsed answers to fool peer reviewers.


One Vice-Chancellor even confessed:

"The labs you saw today? We don’t own them. They were leased for 24 hours."



Ground Reality: How NAAC Accreditation Really Works



1. Accreditation Through Bribes

Institutions use cash, gold, luxury gifts, and foreign trips to buy accreditation. The higher the bribe, the higher the grade.



2. Corrupt Data Validation Process

Institutions manipulate placement records, faculty profiles, and research output to fabricate a strong case for NAAC.



3. Influence Over Peer Review Team

Institutions select their own assessors or offer "hospitality" to ensure a favorable evaluation.



4. Fake Research & Academic Excellence

Many universities purchase or plagiarize research to boost scores and meet academic standards on paper.



5. Shadow Market of "Consultants"

A parallel industry of fraudulent accreditation "experts" ensures institutions get top grades without actual improvements.



NAAC Must Be Abolished


NAAC no longer serves its original purpose. It has become a corrupt, dysfunctional entity, where accreditation is bought and sold like a commodity. The entire system needs to be dismantled, and a new accreditation model must be introduced.


The Way Forward: A New, Transparent System

  1. AI & Blockchain-Based Accreditation

    • Use AI to verify data authenticity and blockchain to prevent tampering.


  2. Completely Randomized Peer Review Selection

    • Institutions should never know who is evaluating them until the assessment begins.


  3. Strict Ban on Third-Party Consultants

    • Any middleman promising accreditation must be legally prosecuted.


  4. Public Disclosure of Assessment Reports

    • Institutions' full assessment reports should be accessible to everyone.


  5. Severe Penalties for Fraudulent Institutions

    • Institutions caught manipulating NAAC should face criminal charges & funding cuts.



The Time for Change is Now


The recent CBI arrests are just the beginning. The rot runs deeper than what meets the eye. If we do not act now, India's higher education system will crumble under its own weight of deception.


It's time to abolish NAAC and create a new, transparent accreditation system that ensures real academic excellence, not just an illusion of it.


Enough is enough. The future of education is at stake.


 

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Stay Inspired, Stay Informed.

 

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