UGC warns public against IIPM

Says it is not a university, doesn't have the right to confer or grant degrees

The University Grants Commission has once again issued a public notice informing students and the public at large that the Indian Institute of Planning and Management (IIPM) is not a university and does not have the right to confer or grant degrees.

UGC in the notice says, "...Indian Institute of Planning and Management is not a university within the meaning of Section 2(f) of the UGC Act 1956. Further as per section 22 of the UGC Act 1956, IIPM does not have the right of conferring or granting degrees as .specific of conferring or granting degrees by the UGC under Section 22 (3) of the UGC Act."

"It is further clarified for information that IIPM is neither entitled to award MBA/BBA/BCA degree nor it is recognised by UGC," the notice adds.

IIPM, did not reply to an email questionnaire sent last week. The institute, established by Malayendra Kisor Chaudhuri in 1973, is headed by his son, Arindam Chaudhuri at present.

IIPM has 18 branches through out the country offering courses in Bachelor in Business Administration (BBA), Masters in Business Administration (MBA), Executive MBA and Bachelor of Computer Application (BCA).

UGC in its notice adds: "The public and students are also hereby informed that the universities established either by a Central Act or a State Act or an institution deemed to the university under Section 3 of the University Grants Commission Act can confer or grant only those degrees which are specified by the  UGC under Section 22 (3) of the UGC Act, 1956..."

A senior professor from the industry said "UGC has to go beyond issuing public notices. How is it that an institution which is neither registered with AICTE  nor sought permission from UGC can be allowed to operate and take students for a ride?"

While the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), country's technical education regulator, has listed all of IIPM's branches under its list of 330-odd unapproved institutions,  it says it cannot do anything beyond this as IIPM is not registered with AICTE.

"We have been time and again writing to respective state governments to take action against the unapproved institutions. But they are non-committal," said Shankar S Mantha, Chairman, AICTE.

Mantha added that despite issuing notices and warning students against unapproved institutions like IIPM, if parents and students do not pay heed, regulatory bodies can hardly help.