The National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) has reported a significant increase in participation for the first cycle of accreditation in 2025. A total of 11,829 institutions—comprising both universities and colleges—underwent the assessment process. Among these, 2,533 institutions achieved Grade A, highlighting a notable improvement in the quality of higher education institutions across India.
Breakdown of NAAC Accreditation Results
The distribution of institutions across various NAAC grades is as follows:
- Grade A: 2,533 institutions
- Grade B: 7,850 institutions
- Grade C: 1,446 institutions
This data underscores a positive trend in the quality of education, with a substantial number of institutions attaining higher grades compared to previous cycles.
Participation Surge in First Cycle
The first cycle of accreditation in 2025 saw a participation of 11,829 institutions, more than double the number in the second cycle, which had 5,505 institutions. This surge indicates both the establishment of new institutions and a growing commitment among existing ones to enhance their educational standards through accreditation.
Regional Highlights
In terms of regional participation:
- Maharashtra: Led with 2,700 colleges and 41 universities accredited across all cycles.
- Karnataka: Followed with 1,136 colleges.
- Tamil Nadu: Accredited 1,036 colleges.
Among universities, Uttar Pradesh had the highest count, with 56 universities accredited.
Reforms in Accreditation Process
In response to previous concerns regarding the accreditation process, NAAC is introducing a Basic or Binary Accreditation system. This new approach aims to simplify the evaluation criteria, focusing on essential quality parameters. Under this system, institutions will either be accredited or not, eliminating the traditional grading system that included A, A+, A++, B, and B+.
Teacher Training Centres Assessment
The review of Malaviya Mission Teacher Training Centres (MMTTCs) revealed that out of 66 assessed, 7 were labeled as "non-performers," and 46 (or 70%) were categorized as "underperformers." These centres, previously known as Academic Staff Colleges, play a crucial role in faculty development. The assessment highlights the need for targeted interventions to enhance their effectiveness.
