Is AICTE Required for University? What Is the Main Work of AICTE?

AICTE or All India Council for Technical Education is not required for universities in India to conduct technical programs, as clarified by Supreme Court judgments and the AICTE Act, 1987.

Universities established under state or central acts or deemed universities operate autonomously under UGC oversight. However, affiliated technical colleges and standalone PGDM institutes must secure AICTE approval for courses like engineering and management.

Main Functions of AICTE

The primary role of AICTE involves regulating technical education by:

• Granting approvals to non-university institutions

• Setting norms for infrastructure, faculty, and curriculum

• Promoting quality through accreditation

AICTE oversees AICTE approved colleges through annual inspections, maintains lists of unapproved institutions on its portal, and facilitates schemes like the AICTE internship portal for student placements.

Additional duties include:

• Policy formulation

• Funding research

• Standardizing exams through AICTE Parakh for skill assessments

Approval Requirements

Universities skip prior AICTE nod as per the Bharathidasan University vs AICTE (2001) ruling. However, their affiliated colleges need AICTE approval for B.Tech/MBA validity.

Degrees from unapproved setups risk non-recognition by employers and PSUs.

Standalone institutes apply via the AICTE portal (AICTE login/registration), submitting EOA applications with fees, documents, and site visits. The 2025–26 handbook details norms like 1:20 faculty–student ratio.

Key Portals and Services

AICTE Registration / Login

Mandatory for institutes and students at www.aicte-india.org for approvals and scholarships.

AICTE Internship Portal / Login

National portal connecting students with 1 lakh+ opportunities in PSUs and tech firms.

AICTE Courses / Recruitment

Lists approved programs and job notifications via AICTE recruitment.

The official site hosts the AICTE approved colleges list, which must be verified before admission to avoid fake approvals.

Summary

AICTE ensures technical education standards without micromanaging universities, focusing instead on affiliated institutions for degree credibility.

Students benefit from its verified lists and internship portals, supporting career security and employability.