New Delhi [India], April 5: The University Grants Commission (UGC) has introduced a new regulation—UGC (Recognition and Grant of Equivalence to Qualifications Obtained from Foreign Educational Institutions) Regulations, 2025—aimed at streamlining the process of recognizing foreign academic qualifications in India.
📝 What’s New?
- A transparent, tech-enabled process for evaluating foreign degrees.
- Launch of a dedicated online portal for applications, status tracking, and certificate issuance.
- Evaluation based on:
- Institutional legitimacy
- Course structure and credit load
- Duration and level of qualification
- Learning outcomes and evaluation methods
- A Standing Committee on Equivalence will periodically assess applications.
- Decisions will be made in 15 working days, with a review option in case of rejection.
🚫 Not Covered:
Degrees in professional fields like:
- Medicine
- Pharmacy
- Nursing
- Law
- Architecture
These will still be governed by their respective regulatory councils (e.g., MCI, BCI, COA).
🛑 No Equivalence For:
- Degrees from unrecognised or unaccredited institutions
- Franchise or offshore programmes that violate Indian norms
🕒 Timelines:
- Decision in 15 working days
- Rejection review within 30 working days
- Review resolution in another 15 working days
💬 UGC Chairman M. Jagadesh Kumar:
“This reform addresses a long-standing challenge and aligns with NEP 2020. A fair and timely recognition process is crucial for both returning Indian students and attracting international talent.”