New Delhi, March 1
All higher educational institutions from central and state universities to deemed universities and colleges will now have to seek accreditation under law in the country.

In a decision aimed at improving the quality of education in India, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has notified new regulations making it compulsory for all institutions imparting higher education (expect technical colleges which the All-India Council for Technical Education will cover) to apply for accreditation within a period of six months to the accreditation agencies namely the National Assessment and Accreditation Council, the National Board of Accreditation, and the National Accreditation Board currently recognised by the UGC.

Notified in the gazette on January 19, the regulations make it incumbent on institutions, both government and private, to apply for accreditation by July 19 this year to accreditation agencies.

All institutions which have been in existence for six years or from where two batches of students have passed out (whichever is earlier) will need to seek accreditation within this stipulated time. Those that haven’t yet completed these criteria must apply within six months of completing six years of operation or passing out of two batches apply for accreditation.

No new institution will be allowed to operate unless it has sought assessment and accreditation certificate from the accreditation agency.

Called UGC Mandatory Assessment and Accreditation of Higher Educational Institutions Regulations, the new notification seeks to ensure that students can make informed choices about academic courses, institutions can raise quality and seek international recognition for which benchmarking is necessary. Hitherto, accreditation is voluntary in India and less than 10 per cent of all institutions are accredited.

The regulations will be applicable to all 44 central universities; around 300 state universities and over 33,000 colleges of which 6,000 are UGC funded. 

Who is covered
* All universities established by Acts of Parliament or state legislature
* All institutions (except technical) declared as deemed varsities by the UGC
* All colleges (except technical) including autonomous colleges