Fake PhDs, real Jobs: Karnataka finds 249 guest lecturers with bogus certificates

“We have also directed the principals to file First Information Reports against them for providing false information and forging documents. The information about the action initiated against them must be uploaded in the EMIS (Education Management Information System) portal within a week,” he added.

Verification drive

The action follows a verification drive launched in February after complaints that candidates had submitted fake academic credentials to secure guest lecturer positions. Principals were asked to obtain authenticity reports directly from the universities and institutions that issued postgraduate marks cards, as well as NET, SET, PhD, MPhil, and Kalyana Karnataka residence certificates submitted by applicants.

According to officials, more than 200 guest lecturers resigned after the verification exercise began, anticipating that forged or unverifiable credentials would be detected.

Under the University Grants Commission (UGC) norms, candidates applying for guest lecturer posts in first-grade colleges must possess at least one of the following qualifications: NET, SET, or a PhD. The verification exercise found that a significant number of applicants had allegedly relied on fake PhD certificates to meet the eligibility criteria.

‘Certificates available for Rs 50,000 and Rs 3 lakh’

Officials said many of the fake PhD certificates are often sourced from private universities in neighbouring states.

“These certificates are available for anywhere between Rs 50,000 and Rs 3 lakh. While the problem exists across the state, it is more prevalent in the Kalyana Karnataka region because some aspirants believe they can evade scrutiny,” a senior official said.

In 2017, the Karnataka Examinations Authority detected 40 candidates who had allegedly submitted fake PhD certificates while applying for assistant professor posts.