Hindustan to ‘Fakeistan’: India’s fake degrees in limelight as Australia raises concerns

ISLAMABAD, Dec 22 (APP): India’s education sector stands exposed as a hub of systemic fraud through scandals like the Manav Bharti University (MBU) case in Himachal Pradesh, where exactly 36,000 fake degrees were issued out of 41,000 total from 2009 to 2020, sold at prices ranging from 100,000 to 300,000 rupees each.

This massive racket, uncovered by an anonymous tip to the University Grants Commission (UGC) in 2020, implicated Raj Kumar Rana, chairman of the operating trust, and persisted despite initial regulatory rejections, highlighting regulatory failures under UGC oversight.

Once hailed as “Hindustan,” India now merits the label “Fakeistan” as these diploma mills erode global trust in its credentials.

International Repercussions
Australia has heightened scrutiny on Indian student visa applications amid rising concerns over fake degrees, with reports flagging Himachal Pradesh institutions like MBU for verification lapses that threaten skilled migration programs.

Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower specifically probed 15 MBU degree holders on work permits, while Malaysia, the US, and Canada questioned hundreds of graduates, leading employers to demand re-verification and revoke jobs. Nepal encountered visa denials for officials holding such credentials, amplifying diplomatic strains.

Linked Scandals and Probes
The Supreme Court flagged a large-scale fraud in Uttar Pradesh on June 30, 2025, involving 8,000 fake Agra University certificates. Historical cases like Vyapam in Madhya Pradesh (exposed around 2015) saw over 2,000 arrests and mysterious deaths tied to rigged medical admissions. India’s Enforcement Directorate (ED) attached properties worth Rs 5.8 crore (as of January 10, 2025) in related fake degree probes, yet UGC’s annual fake university lists—updated as recently as December 2024—fail to stem the tide.

Enduring “Fakeistan” Legacy
From MBU’s 11-year operation (2009-2020) to ongoing rackets in Hyderabad, Surat, and Goa, India’s fake degree epidemic—potentially over 1 million fraudulent credentials by early 2026—undermines merit-based hiring worldwide, turning “Hindustan” into “Fakeistan” in the eyes of nations like Australia, Singapore, and beyond