NAAC to Launch AI-Based Accreditation System for Colleges and Universities from August 2025

In a major shift aimed at reforming quality assurance in higher education, the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) will implement a new AI-powered accreditation system starting August 2025, replacing its three-decade-old manual evaluation model.

The updated framework is designed to eliminate physical visits for basic accreditation, enhance transparency, and significantly expand the number of accredited institutions in India. The overhaul aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and follows recommendations from a high-level committee led by former ISRO chief Dr K Radhakrishnan.

NAAC to roll out AI-driven accreditation from August, replacing its 30-year-old system with virtual assessments and a five-tier grading model.

From Physical to Digital: A Major Overhaul

According to NAAC Chairperson Prof. Anil Sahasrabudhe, the new system will adopt a binary rating—‘Accredited’ or ‘Not Accredited’—in place of the traditional seven-point scale. For the basic accreditation, peer review site visits will be replaced with AI-driven document verification and stakeholder-based evaluations.

“Each institution will begin with a base score of 0.5. Scores will adjust based on the authenticity of submitted documents and stakeholder verification,” said Sahasrabudhe. He also warned that submission of false data could result in debarment from the process for up to three years.

A panel of 100 randomly selected stakeholders—including vice-chancellors, faculty, NGO members, and industry experts—will assess data submitted by institutions. Their feedback will generate a credibility score between 0 and 1, which will directly impact the accreditation decision.

Two-Tier Model with Five-Level Progression

The new model introduces a two-tiered structure:

• Basic Accreditation: Document-based, AI-verified evaluation with no physical visits.

• Maturity-Based Graded Accreditation: Optional for institutions seeking higher recognition through five progressive levels.

Institutions that pass the basic level can progress to the graded system, where each level demands increasingly rigorous evaluation—ranging from 55 parameters at Level 1 to up to 100 at Level 5. Physical site visits will only be required from Level 3 onwards, and will follow a hybrid model.

Open to All Institutions, Including Foreign Campuses

All higher education institutions, including those with existing NAAC ratings (A, A+, A++), can apply under the new framework. Foreign universities operating in India are also eligible for accreditation under the revised system.

Aiming for 90% Accreditation Coverage by 2030

Currently, only 40% of Indian universities and 18% of colleges are accredited. With the new model, NAAC aims to accredit over 90% of higher education institutions in India over the next five years.

“Our goal is to make accreditation more accessible, reliable, and aspirational. This digital transformation will bring higher transparency and accountability,” said Prof. Sahasrabudhe.

The rollout marks a significant milestone in India’s push toward data-driven, AI-integrated governance in education, helping institutions strive for excellence while embracing the demands of a rapidly evolving academic landscape.