NAAC Assessment: Time for Introspection

NAAC which insists on best practices in HEIs is now struggling to maintain the best practices following this episode. It is ironical that the NAAC inspection team is now being inspected by the CBI, top level bureaucrats, the media and the people.

- P.V. LAXMIPRASAD

National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) Bangalore has been in the news for more than a month in the country ever since the CBI arrested NAAC Peer Team members in connection with a bribery case on 1 February 2025 from an institution in Andhra Pradesh.

The cancer of corruption has now entered the academic gates. The image of academicians is miserably down now.

In the past, there were corruption cases from lower cadre employees working as subordinates in Government offices.

But the scale and magnitude of this particular case involving Indian elite class of University Professors favoring an institution for a better grade has invited sharp criticism from the media and the academic society. The news has been no surprise to Indians because of the past history of recruitment scams in universities and other irregularities.

NAAC which insists on best practices in HEIs is now struggling to maintain the best practices following this episode. It is ironical that the NAAC inspection team is now being inspected by the CBI, top level bureaucrats, the media and the people.

The academic society has been curiously watching the developments that sent shock waves across the country.

The suspension of NAAC Peer Team members and the removal of 900 assessors speak of highhandedness of top level officials of the assessment and accreditation team as a whole. In fact, NAAC teams have been under scanner for some time.

First those highly deserving institutions were not accredited justifiably. Second those undeserving institutions were accredited with A and other higher grades. This has added fuel to the fire.

There has been no point in justification. Mere de-barring an institution from five years won't solve the problem. Mere suspensions won't set the things in order.