Manav Bharti University Fake Degree Scandal: Around 36,000 Certificates Allegedly Sold

*SHIMLA:* A major fake degree scandal involving India’s Manav Bharti University in Himachal Pradesh has come to light, with investigations revealing that approximately 36,000 fraudulent degrees were allegedly sold over an 11-year period. Meanwhile, stricter measures in the United States concerning the recruitment of skilled foreign workers and the process of obtaining permanent residency have created new challenges for major technology companies.

According to a report published by *The Times of India* on January 31, 2021, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) investigating Manav Bharti University, located in Solan, found that the alleged fake degree network extended across 17 Indian states. The report stated that approximately 41,000 degrees were examined, of which only around 5,000 were found to be genuine, while approximately 36,000 were identified as fake.

In a statement issued on January 10, 2025, India’s Directorate of Enforcement (ED) estimated that proceeds from the alleged sale of fake degrees amounted to approximately 3.87 billion Indian rupees (₹387 crore). The agency also outlined action taken against assets linked to the case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

Separately, the United States has introduced stricter measures affecting the employment-based permanent residency process for foreign workers. Reports relating to October 8, 2026, indicated that the US administration had announced a pause in the processing of certain applications under the Permanent Labor Certification Program, commonly known as PERM. The reported move raised concerns about the green card processes of major technology companies, including Microsoft, Adobe, Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services, Wipro and HCL Technologies.

According to Reuters, US officials have expressed concerns about foreign-worker recruitment practices, protecting employment opportunities for American workers and the labour certification process for permanent residency. However, a pause in processing under the PERM program should not be interpreted as a complete ban on H-1B work visas or the cancellation of all recruitment authorisations held by Indian IT companies. The H-1B temporary work visa and PERM labour certification for employment-based permanent residency are two separate legal processes.

Meanwhile, on March 26, 2019, the Indian High Commission in Cyprus issued an official advisory warning that certain agents were using forged police clearance certificates, fraudulent educational credentials and counterfeit verification stamps to facilitate applications for students and job seekers. The High Commission urged Indian nationals to verify the authenticity of their documents and avoid relying on paperwork supplied by agents without independent verification.

These cases highlight the risks associated with academic credential fraud and potential abuses of immigration systems. They also underline the importance of verifying educational qualifications and official documents before using them for employment, higher education or immigration applications.