NAAC rolls out fully digital, simplified accreditation system

• NAAC shifts accreditation online, replacing seven-scale rating with simple status notification.
• Only 40% universities, 20% colleges are accredited; NAAC aims for 90%-95% coverage.
• New five-level graded system allows institutions to progressively enhance their accreditation status.

The National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), an autonomous body under the University Grants Commission (UGC), has transformed its accreditation process for higher educational institutions in India, shifting it entirely online to boost participation and streamline evaluations. This revamped system eliminates the seven-scale rating used for three decades, replacing it with a simplified notification of accreditation status. An official announcement is expected on July 29, 2025, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during an event celebrating the fifth anniversary of the National Education Policy 2020.

Currently, only 40% of India’s 1,170 universities and less than 20% of approximately 50,000 colleges hold NAAC accreditation. Anil Sahasrabudhe, Chairman of NAAC’s Executive Council, emphasized the goal to increase this significantly: “As on date, roughly 40% of the 1,170 universities in the country have obtained accreditation. When it comes to colleges, not even 20% of the 50,000-odd colleges have managed to get it. Our objective is to ensure that between 90percent to 95 percent of these higher educational institutions obtain the accreditation.”

Accreditation assures the quality of education, benefiting students and reassuring parents about the value of their investment. “It will help the students enormously as they will gain knowledge of a good standard. Parents will be relieved as they are assured of the quality provided in the institution after paying a hefty sum as a fee,” Sahasrabudhe explained.

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According to a senior education official, the previous system scared away many institutions because of the fear of getting low grades. The new procedure is less burdensome since it cuts the duration of accreditation validity to three years as opposed to five years and does not require field visits. “The basic process of obtaining the accreditation will be done fully online with no field visits required by the Committee. This is a major step in simplifying the process and encouraging higher educational institutions to come forward to apply to NAAC,” Sahasrabudhe stated.

A new Maturity-Based Graded Accreditation system introduces five levels, from Level 1 to Level 5. “Those who get the accreditation can next opt for Maturity-Based Graded Accreditation with five levels set to be introduced, ranging between Level 1 and Level 5. Colleges and universities can keep upgrading themselves with one level after another. Level-1 and Level-2 are relatively easy to get and can be obtained online. Level-3 will be a hybrid one with online and field visits to the institute by the NAAC team,” says Sahasrabudhe.

Institutions offering high standards can directly apply for higher levels, while Levels 4 and 5 have stringent criteria, with Level 5 reserved for institutions matching international standards.