The National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) is an autonomous body established in 1994 by the University Grants Commission (UGC) in India to assess and accredit higher education institutions (HEIs). The NAAC conducts periodic assessments of HEIs, including universities and colleges, to evaluate their performance against defined quality standards. This involves a self-study process by the institution and an on-site visit by a peer team of experts.
As of July 2024, NAAC accredits 10,282 higher education institutions (458 colleges and 9,824 universities).
The NAAC is launching a new, technology-driven accreditation system, set to be implemented in phases. These changes, which align with India's National Education Policy 2020, aim to make the process more transparent and efficient by using AI-driven assessments and digital verification instead of physical inspections. A new Binary Accreditation system and Maturity Based Graded Levels are being introduced.
NAAC. [Archived 2024, May 27]. Homepage. https://web.archive.org/web/20240527104709mp_/http://naac.gov.in/index.php/en
NAAC. [Archived 2024, May 27]. Assessment & Accreditation. https://web.archive.org/web/20240527104115/http://naac.gov.in/index.php/en/assessment-accreditation
BS Eduworld Team. (2025, November 5). National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) – Quality Assurance in Higher Education India. https://bseduworld.com/national-assessment-and-accreditation-council/
Vaave Team (2024, May 3). NAAC Guidelines 2025: Major Changes & Updates in Institution Accreditations. https://www.vaave.com/blog/major-changes-in-naac-guidelines-2024/