India Today impact: Govt takes action after expose into 4 Madhya Pradesh colleges

The Ministry of Education has ordered a probe into BEd colleges linked to Barkatullah University after an India Today investigation flagged serious irregularities. An independent panel has begun physical checks in Bhopal, and the Ministry has warned of strict action against any defaulting institution.Union Education Minister Dharmendra PradhanThe Ministry of Education has ordered a comprehensive 360-degree probe into BEd colleges affiliated with Barkatullah University in Madhya Pradesh after an India Today investigation exposed major irregularities, including colleges missing from their declared locations and inadequate infrastructure.Treating the matter as serious, the Ministry immediately directed the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) to submit a factual verification report. NCTE submitted its report to the Ministry on July 15, 2026.The Ministry has also constituted an independent fact-finding committee to physically inspect the institutions. The committee is conducting on-site verification, geotagged photography and videography to establish the factual position of the colleges.As part of the exercise, the committee will compare its physical findings with the recognition documents and Performance Appraisal Reports (PAR) submitted by the institutions. The panel is headed by a former Vice-Chancellor and includes representatives from the Ministry of Education, the University Grants Commission (UGC) and the Madhya Pradesh government.The committee reached Bhopal on July 17 and has begun physical verification of all the colleges under scrutiny. During the preliminary review, investigators found one more college operating from the same premises, expanding the scope of the probe from three institutions to four.The Ministry has said it will complete a comprehensive 360-degree review before taking action. It has warned that strict punitive action will be taken against institutions found to be in default.- EndsPublished By: Akshat TrivediPublished On: Jul 18, 2026 23:34 IST