New Delhi, 13 July– Om Prakash Yoginder Singh University (OPJS) in India has come under scrutiny for allegedly issuing fake certificates to over 43,000 students since 2013. The scandal emerged after 1,300 applicants who had passed the Physical Training Instructor (PTI) examination in 2022 submitted their certificates, leading to an investigation.

According to official data, the university was permitted to admit students for only 100 seats in 2016. However, students admitted before 2020 were the only ones eligible for the 2022 PTI exam. Local police revealed that many of these students received fraudulent certificates.

The university's founder, Yoginder Singh Dalal, was recently arrested on charges of leaking recruitment exam questions and abuse of power. During his interrogation, authorities uncovered the extent of the fake certificate issuance. Rajasthan Police DIG Paris Deshmukh stated that since 2013, OPJS has issued 708 PhDs, 8,861 engineering degrees, and 1,640 degrees in physical education.

In response to the scandal, the Higher Education Department of Rajasthan Government ordered a halt to new admissions in all courses at the university, effective from June 24. This move aims to prevent further fraudulent activities and protect the integrity of higher education in the region.