Politics of ranking and accreditation

Education is a significant medium of progress and development in society; it is vital in structuring a student’s career in today’s competitive world. The reputation of a university or college can determine employment prospects, research access, and even social standing. Parents dream of sending them to the best schools to provide the finest opportunity and secure a bright future. But what if the very system that determines the quality of an institution is flawed? What if rankings and accreditations can be priced?

The recent National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) bribery scandal has laid bare deep flaws in India’s higher education accreditation system. A high-profile investigation by the CBI led to the arrest of 10 individuals on February 1, including university vice-chancellors, directors, and even a professor from Jawaharlal Nehru University. According to the CBI, an inspection committee from NAAC demanded a bribe of Rs 1.80 crore from the Koneru Lakshmaiah Education Foundation in Andhra Pradesh in exchange for a favourable accreditation rating.

This revelation raises pressing concerns about the credibility of accreditation bodies and the institutions they certify. If rankings can be bought, the entire purpose of ensuring quality education is defeated. Students and parents may lose trust in the accrediting system, questioning the legitimacy of even top-ranked institutions. Likewise, international universities could doubt the credibility of Indian degrees, affecting students’ future prospects. Meanwhile, institutions that genuinely prioritise academic excellence may struggle to compete, while those engaging in fraudulent practices continue to thrive. Instead of investing in research, faculty, and infrastructure, funds are being redirected towards securing manipulated accreditations.

India’s education landscape comprises both public and private institutions. While the public sector invests heavily to ensure access to quality education for all, private players bring competition and innovation. However, this competition has also led to a profit-driven model where financial interests often take precedence over academic excellence. 

Given the vast number of universities and colleges across the country, students and guardians rely heavily on rankings and accreditation scores to identify top institutions. NAAC, an autonomous body under the University Grants Commission (UGC), was established in 1994 to evaluate and accredit higher education institutions. Its certification process considers factors such as curriculum quality, research output, infrastructure, student support, and governance. A high NAAC grade enhances an institution’s reputation, attracts students, secures government funding, and facilitates international collaborations. Conversely, a poor accreditation can push institutions to the margins, limiting their ability to attract students and funding.

While accreditation is meant to uphold quality, the system has significant vulnerabilities. NAAC’s process relies on institutional self-assessment reports, followed by expert peer reviews. There have been reports of institutions manipulating data or presenting misleading information to secure higher rankings. The intense competition has driven some to resort to unethical tactics, prioritising numerical scores over genuine academic improvements. The NAAC bribery scandal is just the latest example of corruption within this system. If accreditation becomes a transaction, institutions with financial muscle can buy legitimacy, while those genuinely committed to academic excellence suffer.

To restore credibility and ensure that higher education remains a source of knowledge rather than a business transaction, reforms are urgently needed. Some key measures include:

Transparency: NAAC’s assessment process must be more transparent, with real-time monitoring, inspections, and public access to evaluation reports.

AI-based evaluations: AI-driven assessment tools can reduce human intervention and limit bribery opportunities.

Oversight mechanisms: Independent regulatory bodies should foresee NAAC’s functioning to prevent conflicts of interest.

Whistleblower protections: Faculty, students, and staff must be encouraged to report unethical practices without fear.

Periodic audits: Institutions should be subject to random, unannounced audits to ensure compliance with academic and infrastructural standards.

India’s intellectual and economic growth depends on the integrity of its higher education. Accreditation and ranking systems play a crucial role in maintaining quality, but when these systems are compromised by corruption, the consequences are severe. The NAAC scandal is a wake-up call—without urgent reforms, India risks losing the trust of students, parents,
and the global academic community. Quality education must remain the priority, not just profits and rankings.

(Akshita is a research scholar and Areesh is head, Department of International Relations, Peace and Public Policy, St Joseph’s University, Bengaluru)