The National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) is implementing significant reforms to its accreditation process for higher education institutions in India. These changes aim to enhance quality assurance and encourage broader participation among institutions.
Binary Accreditation System
Traditionally, NAAC assigned grades ranging from C to A++ to institutions. However, many institutions hesitated to participate due to concerns about receiving lower grades. To address this, NAAC is introducing a “Binary Accreditation” system, where institutions will be classified as either “accredited” or “not accredited.” This approach is designed to simplify the accreditation process and motivate more institutions to engage in quality assessments.
Maturity-Based Graded Accreditation
In addition to the binary system, NAAC plans to implement a “Maturity-Based Graded Accreditation” framework. This system will categorize accredited institutions into five levels:
- Level 1 to Level 4: Recognized as Institutions of National Excellence.
- Level 5: Designated as Institutions of Global Excellence for Multi-Disciplinary Research and Education.
This tiered structure encourages institutions to continuously improve and aspire to higher standards of excellence.
Implementation Timeline
NAAC will roll out these reforms in two stages:
- Binary Accreditation: To be implemented within the next four months. Institutions applying during this period can choose between the current grading system and the new binary model.
- Maturity-Based Graded Accreditation: Scheduled for implementation by December 2024.
These timelines provide institutions with the flexibility to adapt to the new accreditation methodologies.
One Nation One Data Platform
To ensure integrity and transparency in handling institutional data, NAAC is introducing the “One Nation One Data Platform.” This technology-driven system will capture comprehensive data from institutions for various purposes, including approval, accreditation, and ranking. It features an in-built design for collateral cross-checking to verify data authenticity. The platform aims to minimize manual interventions, reduce the need for physical verification visits, and impose heavy penalties for incorrect data submissions.
These reforms align with the recommendations of the committee led by K. Radhakrishnan, former Chairman of ISRO and Chairperson of the Standing Committee of the IIT Council, constituted in November 2022. The overarching goal is to create a more transparent, objective, and trustworthy accreditation system that fosters a culture of quality in India’s higher education landscape.
