राष्ट्रीय मूल्यांकन एवं प्रत्यायन परिषद

The National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) is an autonomous body established by the University Grants Commission (UGC) of India in 1994 to assess and accredit higher education institutions (HEIs) across the country. Headquartered in Bengaluru, Karnataka, NAAC operates under the Ministry of Education with the primary objective of ensuring and enhancing quality in higher education through a rigorous accreditation process.

History and Establishment

NAAC was established in response to recommendations from the National Policy on Education (1986) and Programme of Action (POA-1992), which identified quality deterioration in Indian higher education as a critical issue requiring intervention. The council began operations in 1994 as an independent accreditation body to evaluate colleges and universities against defined quality parameters.

Mission and Objectives

NAAC's mission is to make quality assurance the defining element of higher education in India through a combination of self and external quality evaluation. Its core objectives include:

• Promoting quality consciousness among higher education institutions
• Establishing benchmarks for academic excellence
• Encouraging institutional self-evaluation and continuous improvement
• Providing stakeholders with reliable information about quality parameters
• Fostering international recognition of Indian higher education institutions

Accreditation Process

NAAC follows a comprehensive multi-stage accreditation process:

1. Institutional Eligibility: Institutions register on the NAAC portal and submit Institutional Information for Quality Assessment (IIQA).
2. Self-Study Report (SSR): Institutions prepare a detailed report covering all aspects of operations, achievements, and challenges.
3. Data Validation: An external agency verifies the submitted information through Data Validation and Verification (DVV).
4. Student Satisfaction Survey: NAAC conducts independent surveys to assess student experiences.
5. Peer Team Visit: Expert committees conduct on-site evaluations to validate SSR claims.
6. Final Assessment: Based on all inputs, NAAC assigns an accreditation grade.

Grading System

NAAC evaluates institutions on a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) scale and assigns one of eight grades:

CGPA Range	Grade	Status
3.51-4.00	A++	Accredited
3.26-3.50	A+	Accredited
3.01-3.25	A	Accredited
2.76-3.00	B++	Accredited
2.51-2.75	B+	Accredited
2.01-2.50	B	Accredited
1.51-2.00	C	Accredited
≤1.50	D	Not Accredited

Assessment Criteria

NAAC evaluates institutions across seven key criteria:

1. Curricular Aspects: Design, development and implementation of academic programs
2. Teaching-Learning and Evaluation: Pedagogical methods, student assessment and faculty quality
3. Research, Innovations and Extension: Research output, patents, and community engagement
4. Infrastructure and Learning Resources: Physical and digital learning facilities
5. Student Support and Progression: Student services, welfare and career support
6. Governance, Leadership and Management: Institutional administration and decision-making
7. Institutional Values and Best Practices: Ethical standards and innovative initiatives

Impact on Higher Education

NAAC accreditation has significantly influenced Indian higher education by:

• Establishing quality benchmarks across institutions
• Promoting transparency and accountability in academic operations
• Encouraging healthy competition among institutions
• Enhancing student employability through quality assurance
• Facilitating international collaborations and student exchanges
• Making institutions eligible for government funding and grants

Recent Developments and Reforms

Following controversies involving assessor misconduct in 2025, NAAC implemented several reforms:

• Transition to hybrid and online evaluation methods to reduce subjectivity
• Removal of 900 peer assessors involved in irregularities
• Recruitment of 1,000 new assessors with stricter selection criteria
• Increased emphasis on data-driven assessments using analytics and AI
• Suspension of physical inspections for colleges involved in accreditation scams

Current Status and Statistics

As of 2023, NAAC has accredited 820 universities and 15,501 colleges across India. The accreditation is typically valid for five years, after which institutions must undergo re-assessment. Some of India's top-rated institutions include Tata Institute of Social Sciences (3.89 CGPA), B.M.S. College of Engineering (3.83 CGPA), and Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham (3.70 CGPA).

Future Directions

NAAC is evolving to address contemporary challenges in higher education quality assurance by:

• Developing more robust digital assessment frameworks
• Aligning with international accreditation standards
• Enhancing focus on learning outcomes and graduate attributes
• Strengthening mechanisms to prevent malpractices
• Promoting institutional autonomy with accountability

Conclusion

The National Assessment and Accreditation Council remains a cornerstone of quality assurance in Indian higher education. While facing operational challenges, its accreditation process continues to drive institutions toward excellence. Recent reforms demonstrate NAAC's commitment to maintaining credibility in its assessments. As Indian higher education expands globally, NAAC's role in ensuring quality standards becomes increasingly vital for the sector's international recognition and competitiveness.

Organization Name

राष्ट्रीय मूल्यांकन एवं प्रत्यायन परिषद

National Assessment and Accreditation Council

Acronym

NAAC

Year of Establishment

1994

Control Type

Public

Entity Type

Non-Profit

Geo Focus and Coverage

National

Recognized by

n.a.

Affiliations or Memberships

n.a.

Number of Member Universities or Accredited Institutions

n.a.

Address

PO Box 1075, Nagarbhavi
Bangalore
560 072 Karnataka India

Phone

+91 (80) 2300 5111

Fax

+91 (80) 2321 0257

n.a.

Official Social Media Channels

Facebook

National Assessment and Accreditation Council's Facebook page

X (Twitter)

Not available

LinkedIn

National Assessment and Accreditation Council's LinkedIn page

YouTube

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Instagram

Not available

Wikipedia Article

National Assessment and Accreditation Council's Wikipedia page

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