New Delhi: With admissions to higher educational institutions having begun for the new academic year, the government yesterday cautioned the people against being lured by dubious and unrecognised educational institutions that were functioning in some parts of the country.

Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh appealed to students to keep away from institutions that were not recognised by the government and other certified agencies.

List of Fake Universities in India

The University Grants Commission (UGC) had early this year declared 21 institutions as "Fake Universities".

The minister, in his appeal, also urged the media to observe restraint and refuse to accept advertisements from dubious institutions that were intended to defraud unsuspecting parents and students.

"Even if it means loss of advertisement revenues, the media should not become a party to attempts by those who play with the future of our younger generation," the minister stated.

"You should not merely go by the advertisements issued in the media by higher educational institutions. You should be satisfied on all counts," Singh added.

The UGC has also issued notices to universities and colleges to keep an eye on misleading advertisements to ensure that the people are not cheated. IANS