Renowned Indian University Sells 36,000 Fake Degrees

India’s academic sector has been shocked by the news of the sale of fake degrees by one of its renowned universities, Manav Bharti University (MBU). MBU reportedly sold 36,000 fake degrees over 11 years for prices ranging from of 100,000 to 300,000 rupees (US$1,362-4,085), as reported by South China Morning Post. A special team of investigators in India found that of the 41,000 degrees issued by the university, so far only 5,000 are authentic.

This case is claimed to be India’s largest educational fraud case, which went viral in February 2021. Trak.in reported that MBU has been involved in a massive fraud since 2009. The Himachal Pradesh government gave Manav Bharti Charitable Trust permission to run the university in 2009 after initially rejecting a proposal related to this in 2008. Investigation on this case began after an anonymous report was made to the University Grants Commission.

Raj Kumar Rana, the chairman of Manav Bharti Charitable Trust, which runs MBU, has been the main defendant in the fake degree fraud, Edexlive.com reported.

Beyond its legal and ethical implications, this scandal exposed a much larger and more concerning issue: how easily fake academic credentials can penetrate recruitment systems when pre employment background screening is not conducted thoroughly.

Why Fake Degrees Are a Serious Risk for Employers

At first glance, falsified degrees may seem like an individual misconduct issue. In reality, they represent a systemic risk for organizations, especially those operating across borders.

Hiring employees with fake educational qualifications can lead to:

• Poor job performance due to lack of actual competence
• Compliance and regulatory violations
• Reputational damage if fraud is exposed publicly
• Financial losses caused by rehiring, retraining, or litigation

In regulated industries such as finance, healthcare, energy, aviation, and technology, the consequences can be even more severe. One unqualified hire can compromise data security, public safety, or corporate governance.

This is precisely why pre employment background screening has evolved from a “nice-to-have” into a business necessity, particularly for companies hiring at scale or across different jurisdictions.

How the MBU Case Affected Other Countries

The MBU scandal did not remain a domestic issue. Authorities in Singapore, for example, launched investigations into 15 individuals who had declared MBU qualifications in their work permit applications.

Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower (MOM) emphasized that employers are primarily responsible for ensuring the authenticity of academic credentials submitted by foreign employees. While MOM conducts its own checks, employers are still expected to perform due diligence before onboarding talent.

This case demonstrates a critical reality that governments increasingly expect employers to take ownership of pre employment background screening, especially when it comes to education verification. Failure to do so may result not only in operational risk, but also in regulatory scrutiny and penalties.

Educational background screening

Among various screening components, education verification is one of the most frequently falsified elements in a candidate’s profile. Degrees, diplomas, and transcripts are often manipulated because:

• Verification is perceived as difficult or time-consuming
• Institutions may be slow to respond
• Cross-border verification involves language and administrative barriers

Yet, education checks are crucial for roles where formal qualifications are non-negotiable, such as engineers, accountants, auditors, researchers, and senior management.

A comprehensive pre employment background screening process should include:

• Verification of degree authenticity
• Confirmation of institution accreditation
• Validation of graduation year and major
• Cross-checking against known diploma mills or blacklisted institutions

Without a structured process, companies are left vulnerable to sophisticated fraud schemes that are increasingly hard to detect.

Turning Risk Into Control With Integrity Asia

The Manav Bharti University case is not an isolated incident, it is a reminder that credential fraud can exist even within seemingly reputable institutions. For employers, the lesson is clear that trust must be verified.

A robust pre employment background screening program helps organizations:

• Detect falsified education credentials early
• Reduce hiring risks before onboarding
• Demonstrate due diligence to regulators and stakeholders
• Protect long-term business integrity

Integrity Asia supports organizations across industries by delivering accurate, compliant, and timely employment background checks, including education verification tailored to Asia’s diverse landscape.

Putri
Image by Victoria Loveland from Pixabay