Transforming Accreditation & Education: NAAC Reforms, SQAAF Expansion, Union Budget Boost, and Luneblaze’s Growing Impact
The National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) has banned Koneru Lakshmaiah Education Foundation (KLEF) from accreditation applications for five years following a bribery scandal involving 10 arrests and six universities. On 1 February 2025, the Central Bureau Of Investigation. arrested the chairman and six NAAC Inspection Committee members for allegedly accepting bribes from KL University officials to secure higher accreditation ratings. Raids across 20 locations recovered ?37 lakh in cash, gold, and electronics. The scandal also implicated Bharath Institute of Law, Jagran Lakecity University, GL Bajaj Institute of Technology & Management, Greater Noida, Davangere University, and Sambalpur University. As a result, NAAC permanently banned all seven involved peer team members, is reviewing their past assessments, and has withheld pending results for further scrutiny. Source: [India Today]
To curb corruption and enhance transparency, NAAC is shifting entirely to online evaluations for colleges, replacing in-person inspections. Universities will adopt a hybrid model, balancing online assessments with limited site visits. This decision follows the KL University bribery case, reinforcing NAAC’s commitment to a secure and accountable accreditation process. Chairman Prof. Anil Sahasrabudhe highlighted that the new system will improve monitoring, documentation, and fairness while minimizing external influence. Source: [Times of India]
Building on these reforms, NAAC will introduce a new accreditation system in April/May 2025, beginning with Basic (Binary) Accreditation, followed by Maturity-based Graded Levels (MBGL), as recommended by the Dr. Radhakrishnan Committee. The MBGL framework, under development with advanced IT features, aims to ensure objectivity and eliminate unfair practices. HEIs in Cycle 2 and above can retain their existing grades until the transition, then choose between Basic Accreditation and MBGL. Cycle 1 HEIs can opt for Basic Accreditation, with fee adjustments for future applications. Institutions preferring the current Revised Accreditation Framework (RAF) can continue with online peer assessments for colleges and hybrid assessments for universities. NAAC will issue Standard Operating Procedures to ensure a smooth transition. Source: [Times Now]
At the state level, Maharashtra has taken a significant step by approving the School Quality Assessment and Assurance Framework (SQAAF) to enhance education standards. This initiative will grade state schools from A+ to C based on periodic assessments, considering factors such as infrastructure, teaching quality, safety, inclusivity, and gender equality. The State School Standard Authority (SSSA), led by the SCERT director, will oversee compliance with SQAAF parameters aligned with NCERT guidelines and NEP 2020. Schools will conduct annual self-evaluations, submitting data to the SSSA Website, followed by third-party verification every two years to ensure transparency. A dedicated website will allow parents easy access to school gradings, reinforcing accountability and informed decision-making. Source: [Hindustan Times]
On the policy front, the Union Budget 2025-26 reflects a strong commitment to education, with a Rs 1.28 lakh crore allocation—Rs 50,067 crore for higher education and Rs 78,572 crore for school education—shifting focus from the University Grants Commission (UGC) to NCERT. Key initiatives include the Bharatiya Bhasha Pushtak Scheme for digital Indian language books, broadband access in all government secondary schools, and 10,000 new medical seats by 2026, with 75,000 more planned over five years. IITs, with student numbers doubling in a decade, receive funds for infrastructure at five post-2014 campuses, including Indian Institute of Technology, Patna , while 10,000 fellowships at IITs and IISc and 50,000 Atal Tinkering Labs aim to boost scientific research. A Rs 500 crore Centre of Excellence in AI will drive innovation, and Rs 20,000 crore is allocated for private-sector R&D at NIFTEM Bihar. IIMs see a budget rise to Rs 251 crore, but IISERs and world-class institutions face cuts. Despite funding adjustments, the budget advances education through digital access, research, and future-ready infrastructure.
Amid these regulatory updates, feedback was received from Mr. Mohammad Gaffar Mohammad Salar , Principal, Al Ain Juniors School , UAE commended their experience with Luneblaze has been positive so far. Luneblaze’ s guidance and support made the SQAAF process seamless, helping with document creation and evidence submission. The team is highly responsive, addressing queries promptly for smooth service. The user-friendly Luneblaze portal simplifies navigation and task management. Their experience underscores the significant and supportive role of Luneblaze playing in advancing their SQAAF Accreditation journey.
This commitment to excellence aligns with Luneblaze celebrating eight years of transforming school and college accreditations through dedication, innovation, and a focus on quality education. With a vision to empower institutions through cutting-edge technology, Luneblaze provides comprehensive solutions that enhance educational standards and ensure seamless accreditation success. Here's to the milestones achieved and many more ahead!
Further strengthening its impact, Luneblaze has proudly partnered with MDN Edify Education for their SQAAF implementation. Special thanks to Mr. Garv Agarwal , Director, MDN Edify Education, and Dr. Abhishek Sharma , Principal Advisor, Edify Schools , for their trust. Recognizing the importance of streamlined accreditation management, MDN Edify Education has chosen Luneblaze ’s AI-enabled platform to simplify data organization, accreditation tracking, and SQAAF compliance.
To further strengthen institutional preparedness, Luneblaze continues to support schools through monthly SQAAF training sessions. These sessions focus on practical improvement strategies, expert guidance, and networking opportunities. In February, a session on Pedagogy & Assessment in SQAAF Domain 1 was conducted, featuring Dr. Abhishek Sharma, Principal Advisor, Edify Group of Schools, CBSE SQAAF Trainer, an ISO 9001:2000 Certified Trainer, and Advanced Lean Six Sigma Certified Trainer, with 24 years of experience in CBSE, CAIE, and ICSE Boards. Attended by over 4100 participants from 373 schools, the session provided valuable insights into improving Pedagogy & Assessment planning and implementation. Feedback from schools has been overwhelmingly positive, reinforcing the impact of structured training in driving meaningful improvements.
Thank you for being part of this journey. More updates will follow as we continue to support schools and higher institutions in their commitment to excellence.
Together, let's raise educational standards. Luneblaze provides AI-enabled end-to-end solutions to educational institutions for all their accreditation-related needs, be it Documents & Evidence Creation, Self-Assessment Filing support on CBSE SQAAF Portal, Faculty Trainings, Audits, and Consultancy Support. With the help of Luneblaze’s AI-enabled solutions, institutions can organize and manage all their data related to accreditation and assessments like SQAAF for schools and NAAC accreditation in colleges.
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