NAAC’S accreditation system needs change to be creditable

• The National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), in its executive council meeting on, decided to introduce a binary categorisation of “accredited” or “not accredited” for higher educational institutions.

NAAC: Ensuring Quality in Indian Higher Education

• Established in 1994, the NAAC is an independent body under the Ministry of Education that acts as a quality check for colleges and universities in India.
• Like a reviewer for restaurants, the NAAC evaluates and rates these institutions based on seven key areas, including curriculum, teaching methods, research output, and student support.
• Institutions that meet NAAC's standards receive accreditation, valid for five years, which signifies their commitment to quality education.
• Ratings range from A++ (highest) to C, with D indicating the institution is not accredited.
• Universities and colleges that have been around for at least six years or have graduated two batches of students can apply for NAAC's evaluation process, which is currently voluntary.
• NAAC operates under a General Council and an Executive Committee, both packed with experts from India's higher education system.
• This ensures fair and informed decisions when evaluating institutions.

Prelims takeaway

• NAAC
• UGC