Rampant fake degree scandals in India trigger global backlash, countries tighten visa
Islamabad: India’s education sector is facing a severe crisis as a growing number of fake degree scandals have raised serious concerns internationally.
According to media reports, a major case was uncovered at Manav Bharti University (MBU) in Himachal Pradesh, where between 2009 and 2020, the university issued a staggering 41,000 degrees, 36,000 of which were later found to be fraudulent. The fake degrees were sold for sums ranging from 1 to 3 lakh rupees each, creating a lucrative market for counterfeit qualifications.
The scandal came to light in 2020 after an anonymous tip was sent to the University Grants Commission (UGC). The chairman of the university’s operating trust, Raj Kumar Rana, was found to be involved in this massive corruption scheme, revealing severe flaws in the UGC’s oversight system.
