Kolkata, 19 March (H.S.): Serious questions have been raised over the functioning of higher educational institutions in West Bengal after it emerged that three prominent state universities have been operating without accreditation from the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) since 2021.

In a written reply tabled in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, the government said that the NAAC accreditation of Rabindra Bharati University, University of Gour Banga and University of Kalyani has expired.

Minister of State for Education Sukanta Majumdar informed that the accreditation of these institutions lapsed in 2021 and that they have not applied for re-accreditation so far.

According to the government, NAAC accreditation is crucial for higher educational institutions as financial assistance, autonomy status and various academic benefits from the University Grants Commission are linked to it.

The ministry clarified that the UGC provides grants only to institutions recognised under Section 12B of the UGC Act, for which NAAC accreditation is mandatory.

Experts believe that the failure of key state universities to renew their accreditation raises serious concerns over the quality of higher education and administrative accountability in the state.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Priyanka Pandey