Dnyaneshwar Vidyapeeth is an unaccredited university based in Pune, in the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is named after the 13th-century Marathi saint and philosopher Dnyaneshwar, author of the Dnyaneshwari, a celebrated commentary on the Bhagavad Gita. The institution is not recognised by the University Grants Commission (UGC) as a degree-awarding university under the UGC Act, 1956.
| Name | Dnyaneshwar Vidyapeeth |
|---|---|
| Type | Unaccredited university |
| Location | Pune, Maharashtra, India |
| Country | India |
| Recognition | Not recognised by the University Grants Commission (UGC) |
In India, the authority to confer academic degrees is governed by the University Grants Commission Act, 1956. Under Section 22 of the Act, only universities established by a Central, State or Provincial Act, institutions deemed to be universities under Section 3, and institutions specially empowered by Parliament may confer or grant degrees. The UGC periodically publishes lists of institutions which describe themselves as universities but do not fall within these categories; such bodies are commonly described as "unaccredited" or, in UGC parlance, "fake" universities.
Dnyaneshwar Vidyapeeth has been identified in public records as an institution operating in Pune outside this statutory framework. It is therefore not authorised to award recognised degrees in India.
The case of Dnyaneshwar Vidyapeeth is often cited in the wider discussion on regulation of higher education in India, particularly in Maharashtra, where Pune has historically been a major centre of universities, colleges and educational trusts. The presence of unaccredited institutions has been a concern for state and central regulators, prompting periodic public notices warning students against enrolment in bodies whose qualifications are not legally recognised for employment or further academic study.