Names of Deceased, Former Professors Listed as Current Employees in Savitribai Phule Pune University’s NIRF 2025 Data
Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU), one of India’s leading public universities, has found itself in the middle of a serious controversy after names of deceased and retired professors were found listed as current faculty members in its National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) 2025 data submission.
The revelation has sparked questions about data transparency, accountability, and ranking ethics in higher education institutions across India.
The Discovery
According to multiple sources, several names in SPPU’s NIRF submission were identified as professors who had either passed away or retired years ago. The incident came to light after internal university staff and independent reviewers compared official NIRF submissions with publicly available faculty lists.
Experts claim that such discrepancies could have inflated the university’s research and faculty strength score, thereby potentially improving its ranking artificially.
University’s Response
An internal review committee at SPPU has reportedly been formed to look into the matter.
A senior administrative officer stated, “The error seems to have occurred during the data compilation phase. However, this is a serious matter and will be corrected before the final ranking submission.”
Despite this clarification, several educationists argue that manual data entry without proper verification exposes the NIRF system’s vulnerabilities.
NIRF’s Role and Implications
The NIRF rankings, conducted annually by the Ministry of Education, are among the most respected institutional rankings in India. They evaluate universities on parameters such as:
Teaching and learning resources
Research and professional practices
Graduation outcomes
Outreach and inclusivity
Perception
If the allegations are confirmed, SPPU may face penalties or rank revision for the 2025 assessment cycle. Moreover, this revelation could lead to revised verification standards for NIRF submissions in future years.
Expert Opinions
Education policy analyst Dr. Meera Joshi remarked,
“This is not just an SPPU issue—it highlights a deeper problem in how universities handle institutional data. NIRF should implement third-party audits to ensure accuracy and fairness.”
Students and alumni have also expressed disappointment on social media, urging the university to take strong corrective action to preserve its legacy.
Impact on Reputation
Savitribai Phule Pune University, known for its excellence in arts, science, and research, risks damaging its academic reputation and credibility over this issue. The university ranks among India’s top educational institutions, and such data discrepancies can undermine years of hard-earned trust.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1. What is the NIRF ranking system?
The National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) is a system launched by the Government of India to rank higher education institutions based on parameters like teaching quality, research output, and inclusivity.
Q2. How did the SPPU data discrepancy come to light?
It was identified after internal cross-verification of faculty lists revealed names of deceased and retired professors still being listed as active employees in the NIRF data.
Q3. Will this impact SPPU’s ranking in NIRF 2025?
If confirmed, the discrepancies could lead to a downgrade or revision of the university’s ranking.
Q4. Has SPPU issued any official statement?
SPPU officials have stated that the issue resulted from a “data entry error” and promised to review and correct the submission.
Q5. What reforms could follow this incident?
Experts suggest mandatory third-party verification of NIRF submissions and the automation of faculty data records to prevent future errors.
Published on : 10th November
Published by:Selvi
Credit: Nishant Kumar,
www.vizzve.com || www.vizzveservices.com
Follow us on social media: Facebook || Linkedin || Instagram
🛡 Powered by Vizzve Financial
RBI-Registered Loan Partner | 10 Lakh+ Customers | ₹600 Cr+ Disbursed