Singhania University in Pacheri Bari, Jhunjhunu district, is a private university set up under a 2008 Rajasthan state Act. Over the past two years it has faced action from the national regulator, won a court challenge against that action, and been named in a state investigation. This update sets out where each matter stands.

The UGC's PhD ban

On 16 January 2025, the University Grants Commission (UGC) barred Singhania University, along with OPJS University in Churu and Sunrise University in Alwar, from enrolling PhD scholars for five years, from 2025-26 to 2029-30, Careers360 and Amar Ujala reported. The UGC said a standing committee had found that the universities did not follow its PhD regulations or the academic norms for awarding doctorates, and that their explanations were unsatisfactory. It advised students not to seek PhD admission at the three universities.

According to the High Court judgment, the UGC's findings about Singhania concerned PhDs awarded between 2016 and 2020. They included admitting candidates who had scored below 55 percent at postgraduate level.

The Delhi High Court ruling

Singhania University challenged the order. On 15 September 2025, Justice Vikas Mahajan of the Delhi High Court quashed both the debarment order and the UGC's public notice, LiveLaw reported. The judgment held that neither the UGC Act nor the regulations the commission relied on allow it to bar a university from enrolling PhD students. It said a penalty not provided by statute cannot be imposed.

The court rejected the university's argument that it had been denied a fair hearing, and it did not rule on whether the UGC's findings about the 2016-2020 PhDs were right. The ruling turned on the limits of the UGC's power. EFC has not found any published report of an appeal by the UGC.

The 2026 Rajasthan investigation

In February 2026, Rajasthan's Higher Education Minister Prem Chand Bairwa told the state Assembly that investigations had been ordered into 10 of the state's 53 private universities after complaints. Singhania University was on the list, Free Press Journal and Udaipur Kiran reported. Free Press Journal also reported that the Special Operations Group had received complaints about officials at five universities, including Singhania, over backdated mark sheets and degrees.

EFC has found no published report of arrests or charges involving Singhania University staff. Being under investigation is not a finding of wrongdoing, and the outcome of the state inquiry has not been made public.

What students and employers should check

Anyone relying on a Singhania University degree, especially one awarded in the years under scrutiny, should ask the university's examination section to confirm enrolment, examination records and the course's approval status for that year. For PhDs, it is also worth checking that the thesis and viva records exist and that the award met the UGC regulations in force at the time.

Sources

This News Desk report summarises information published by the sources above, written in our own words. Persons named in criminal matters are accused, not convicted, unless a court has ruled otherwise. To report an error, use our contact page.

Singhania UniversityRajasthanUGCDelhi High CourtPhD regulation

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