You cannot reliably tell a fake degree by looking at it. Confirm it at the source: check the institution is recognised and not on the UGC list of fake universities, view the record through DigiLocker or the National Academic Depository with the holder's consent, or get written confirmation from the university's examination or verification cell, using RTI if needed.
Key takeaways
- Paper quality, holograms and QR codes can all be faked; confirm with the issuing university.
- DigiLocker / NAD records are issued by the institution itself and are strong proof.
- Check the UGC fake universities list and the recognition status of the institution.
- Universities have verification cells; RTI is a fallback for public universities.
- Using a fake degree is forgery and cheating under the BNS.
Can you tell a fake degree just by looking at it?
Rarely. Fake degree rackets in India sell certificates printed on convincing paper, with holograms, seals, signatures and even QR codes that lead to a lookalike website. Some sell genuine-looking documents from real universities; others sell degrees from "universities" that have no authority to award degrees at all.
So the rule is simple: confirm with the issuer, not the paper. Visual checks are useful only for deciding which documents need closer scrutiny. This guide goes deeper than the education section in our employee background verification guide, and also covers families checking a prospective groom or bride's claimed qualifications.
How do you verify a degree in India?
| Method | What it confirms | Consent needed? | Typical time |
|---|---|---|---|
| UGC fake universities list and recognition check | Whether the institution can lawfully award degrees | No | Minutes |
| DigiLocker / National Academic Depository (NAD) | Record uploaded directly by the institution | Yes, the holder shares it | Minutes, if the record is uploaded |
| University verification cell | Official confirmation of name, roll number, year, result | Usually a signed authorisation from the holder | Days to several weeks; often a fee |
| RTI application (public universities) | Whether a degree was issued, as a public record request | Third-party information may be refused or need the holder's views | Up to 30 days, longer with third-party notice |
| Professional verification (employer BGV firm or investigator) | Field and written confirmation with the institution, plus related checks | Yes for employment checks | Varies by university |
How do you check whether a university is fake?
- Search the UGC fake universities list on ugc.gov.in. The UGC periodically publishes, state by state, institutions it has declared fake and not empowered to confer degrees. A degree from one of these has no legal value.
- Confirm recognition. Check that the institution appears in UGC's lists of universities (central, state, deemed and private). For professional courses, check the relevant regulator as well, for example AICTE for engineering and management, and the councils for medicine, nursing, pharmacy or law.
- Check the course and mode. Distance and online degrees must be from an institution approved to offer that programme in that mode for that period. Some genuine universities have had specific programmes or study centres disapproved.
- Check the dates. A degree dated before the university was established, or a course started before approval, is a clear red flag.
How to check a degree online through DigiLocker and NAD
The National Academic Depository is a government-backed digital store of academic awards, run through DigiLocker. Participating universities and boards upload degrees and marksheets directly, so a document pulled from NAD comes from the issuer, not the candidate.
- The holder logs into DigiLocker (digilocker.gov.in) with their Aadhaar-linked mobile, searches for their university under the education section, and fetches the document using their roll number and year.
- The holder then shares it with you through DigiLocker, or you check it in their presence. DigiLocker documents are digitally signed by the issuer.
- Organisations that verify at scale can register as verifiers on the NAD platform (nad.digilocker.gov.in) and request records with the holder's consent.
Limits: not every university, and not every older batch, is uploaded. "Not found on NAD" is not proof of a fake, only a reason to verify directly. And never ask anyone for their DigiLocker password or OTP; ask them to share the document themselves.
How to verify a degree directly with the university, or through RTI
Most universities have an examination branch or verification cell that confirms degrees for employers, embassies and other universities. The usual process:
- Find the verification procedure on the university's official website (reached through its UGC listing, not a link printed on the certificate).
- Submit a copy of the degree and marksheets, the holder's signed authorisation, and the fee.
- Ask for a written reply sent directly to you by the university, by email from its official domain or by post.
- Compare every detail: name spelling, father's name, roll or enrolment number, year, division or grade.
RTI route: For public universities, you can file an application under the RTI Act, 2005 asking whether a degree with a specified roll number was issued to a named person. Because this concerns a third party, the public information officer may give notice to the holder or refuse on privacy grounds under s.8(1)(j), unless a larger public interest is shown. Whether degree details are "personal information" has been contested in Indian courts, so treat RTI as a fallback, not a guaranteed route.
What are the red flags of a fake degree?
- Institution on the UGC fake list, or not on any recognised list.
- Degree completed far faster than the programme allows, or "one-sitting" degrees.
- Verification website or phone number printed on the certificate rather than found independently.
- Spelling errors in the university name, motto or registrar's title; inconsistent fonts.
- Marksheets missing, or the candidate cannot produce provisional certificate, migration certificate or fee receipts.
- Degree from a distant state with no explanation of how the person studied there while working elsewhere.
- Candidate refuses consent for verification or delays endlessly.
For marriage proposals, inflated qualifications often come with other inflated claims, such as job title or salary. Our guides on checking a groom's background and spotting fake matrimonial profiles cover those.
How should employers and families approach degree checks differently?
Employers should build education verification into the offer process: written consent in the application form, verification before or soon after joining, a clear policy on what happens if a discrepancy appears, and a chance for the candidate to explain before any decision. Keep copies of the university's reply on the personnel file.
Families vetting a marriage proposal usually cannot demand formal authorisation, so the approach is gentler. Ask for the degree and marksheets as part of normal exchange of details, check the institution yourself, and, if the prospective partner is willing, ask them to share the document from DigiLocker. A refusal on something this simple is itself information. Avoid contacting a university while pretending to be the person or their employer; that is impersonation and can be an offence.
What is the punishment for a fake degree in India?
Making or using a fake degree is treated as forgery and cheating. Under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023: forgery, including the more serious form committed for the purpose of cheating (s.336), using a forged document as genuine (s.340), and cheating (s.318, earlier IPC 420) are all relevant. Those who run degree rackets may also face organised-crime and other charges. Dismissal from service is a common civil consequence, and a qualification obtained by fraud can be cancelled.
An employer or family that discovers a fake degree should keep copies, the university's written denial and the person's representations, and take legal advice before filing a police complaint. For how forged documents are proved more generally, see how to check whether documents are fake.
When should you use a degree verification agency or investigator?
Use professional help when the university is slow or unresponsive, the institution is in another state, the candidate is senior, or the degree is one piece of a wider background question. An investigator can visit the university's verification office, confirm records in person through proper channels, and check related claims such as employment history. For a marriage verification, a pre-matrimonial investigation on Hire Your Detective can include education checks; for hiring, see corporate investigation.
Bottom line
Check the institution, then confirm the record at its source: DigiLocker or NAD first, the university's verification cell next, and RTI as a fallback. Get consent, keep everything in writing, and never rely on a verification link printed on the certificate itself.
Sources & official links
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Laws and procedures change, and every case is different — speak to a lawyer about your situation. In an emergency, call 112.