The Central Government has said that there are about 21 fake universities in the country. Replying to supplementaries in the Lok Sabha today, Minister of State for Education, Sukanta Majumdar said, that in the last ten years, twelve fake universities have been closed. Mr Majumdar said that UGC has released a list of fake universities and recognized universities every year before the academic session. He said, that apart from this, the central government also writes letters to the State governments from time to time regarding fake universities. Mr Majumdar said the government as well as UGC have requested the chief secretary of all States and Union Territories to take appropriate action against those involved in defrauding and cheating students by misrepresenting themselves as University. He said FIRs have also been lodged against several self-styled institutions and Universities.