The National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) has removed approximately 900 assessors from its panel following concerns over irregularities in the accreditation process. The decision comes in the wake of the recent arrests made by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in a bribery case linked to NAAC grading.
Mass Removals Following Corruption Allegations
NAAC, the autonomous body that assesses and accredits higher education institutions in India, has reviewed its evaluation procedures over the past year. It removed some assessors for inactivity or non-compliance with assessment duties and dismissed a significant number after an internal review revealed inconsistencies in grading.
The crackdown gained momentum after the CBI arrested 10 individuals, including six members of a NAAC inspection committee and officials from the Koneru Lakshmaiah Education Foundation in Andhra Pradesh, on February 1. The arrests were linked to a bribery scheme where institutions allegedly paid assessors to secure favorable grades.
Reassessment of Accreditation Reports
A source from NAAC revealed that the agency began reassessing its grading system in April-May 2023 after noticing an unusual rise in A++ ratings. A thorough review of 400 assessments led to nearly half of the institutions receiving downgrades. NAAC scrutinized cases where institutions suddenly jumped two grades between accreditation cycles or received an A++ rating in their first cycle for inconsistencies.
“We aimed to identify discrepancies between qualitative and quantitative evaluations. If an institution’s assessment showed a drastic improvement without clear justification, we flagged it for review,” the source added.
Major Overhaul: Virtual Assessments & Binary Accreditation
As part of its ongoing reforms, NAAC will transition to a new evaluation model starting March 2025. It will introduce virtual assessments for colleges, while universities will follow a hybrid model that combines virtual and on-site visits. This shift aims to reduce opportunities for manipulation and enhance transparency in the accreditation process.
Additionally, NAAC Director Ganesan Kannabiran announced that assessors and institutions will only be informed of assignments on the day of the evaluation to minimize external influences.
In a landmark move, NAAC will also replace the traditional grading system with a binary accreditation model, expected to roll out by May 2025. Institutions will now be categorized as ‘Accredited,’ ‘Awaiting Accreditation,’ or ‘Not Accredited,’ simplifying the evaluation process and reducing subjectivity in scoring.
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Restoring Trust in Higher Education Accreditation
With these sweeping reforms, NAAC aims to restore trust in India’s higher education accreditation system. By enhancing transparency and accountability, the organization seeks to ensure that only institutions meeting rigorous academic standards receive accreditation.
The recent developments highlight the urgency of maintaining integrity in higher education assessments, reinforcing the importance of a robust and impartial evaluation framework for institutions across the country.
