NAAC Accreditation 2026: Binary, MBGL, 7 Criteria & SSR Explained
· · By Dr. Shalini Sharma, Director of Operations, Edhitch
NAAC accreditation is a quality assessment process for Indian higher education institutions, conducted by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council — an autonomous body under the University Grants Commission. As of February 2025, NAAC operates a new two-tier model: the Binary Accreditation Framework (Accredited / Not Accredited) and the optional Maturity-Based Graded Levels (MBGL Levels 1–5). The legacy A++ to C CGPA grading scale is being phased out.
What is NAAC accreditation?
The National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) was established in 1994 as an autonomous body under the University Grants Commission of India. Its mandate is to assess and accredit higher education institutions to promote quality, innovation, and accountability in Indian academia.
NAAC accreditation signifies that an institution has been independently evaluated against national benchmarks for academic quality, infrastructure, research output, governance, and student outcomes. It is a critical credibility signal used by students, employers, regulators, and funding bodies.
Source: AISHE 2021–22 Final Report, Ministry of Education
The 2025 reforms: From CGPA to Binary & MBGL
On February 10, 2025, NAAC announced the most significant overhaul of its accreditation methodology since 2007. Driven by the recommendations of the Dr. K. Radhakrishnan Committee, the reforms address long-standing concerns about transparency, malpractice, and the limitations of CGPA-based grading.
The reform replaces the single CGPA grade (A++ to C) with a two-tier model:
- Tier A — Binary Accreditation Framework (BAF): A simple Accredited / Not Accredited outcome, based on AI-supported document verification.
- Tier B — Maturity-Based Graded Levels (MBGL): Optional progression across five maturity levels, from Basic Compliance (Level 1) to Global Excellence (Level 5).
Other key changes:
- AI-based assessment: Replaces traditional peer-team visits for Binary Accreditation.
- Data Capture Formats (DCF) 2025: Standardised digital evidence framework.
- One Nation One Data Platform: Cross-verifies institutional claims against AISHE, NIRF, and other government databases.
- Foreign universities with Indian campuses can now apply.
Binary Accreditation Framework (BAF) explained
Under the Binary Accreditation Framework, institutions provide YES or NO responses to specific evaluation questions, each backed by verifiable digital evidence. The outcome is binary: Accredited or Not Accredited.
Key characteristics:
- No traditional peer-team visit. Verification is fully digital, supplemented by AI-based document analysis and stakeholder feedback panels.
- Validity: 3 years.
- Eligibility: Institutions with at least 4 years of operation or one graduating batch, recognised by UGC, AICTE, or another statutory body.
- Evidence-first: Every YES response requires policy + implementation + outcome evidence. Mismatches between AQAR, SSR, minutes of meetings, and the institutional website are flagged automatically.
Binary Accreditation is the entry point for institutions joining the new framework. Once accredited, institutions may progress to MBGL for more granular maturity assessment.
MBGL: Maturity-Based Graded Levels (1–5)
The Maturity-Based Graded Levels (MBGL) framework is an optional, progressive evaluation that places accredited institutions on a five-step ladder. Unlike the static CGPA grade, MBGL is designed to track institutional growth over time.
How MBGL differs from BAF: Where BAF asks "does this institution meet the bar?", MBGL asks "how mature is this institution, and how is it growing?" High-performing institutions with strong RAF performance and digital readiness may skip Binary evaluation and move directly into MBGL.
Validity: Each MBGL level is valid for 3 years, after which reassessment is required to maintain or progress.
The 7 NAAC criteria (unchanged structurally)
The seven criteria remain the structural basis of evaluation under both Binary and MBGL frameworks. NAAC categorises higher education institutions into three major types — Universities, Autonomous Colleges, and Affiliated/Constituent Colleges — with differentiated weightages assigned across criteria, totalling 1000 marks.
| # | Criterion | Focus area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Curricular Aspects | Curriculum design, flexibility, NEP 2020 alignment, stakeholder feedback |
| 2 | Teaching-Learning & Evaluation | Faculty quality, student-teacher ratio, pedagogy, examination reforms |
| 3 | Research, Innovations & Extension | Publications, citations, IP, funded projects, industry MoUs |
| 4 | Infrastructure & Learning Resources | Physical infrastructure, ICT, library, accessibility |
| 5 | Student Support & Progression | Scholarships, placements, alumni engagement, grievance redressal |
| 6 | Governance, Leadership & Management | Vision, decentralisation, e-governance, IQAC functioning |
| 7 | Institutional Values & Best Practices | Gender equity, environmental consciousness, distinctiveness |
Weightages within each criterion vary by institution type. Refer to NAAC's official Manuals for Universities, Autonomous Colleges, and Affiliated Colleges.
The NAAC process under the new framework
Step 1: Confirm eligibility and decide your path
Decide whether to apply for Binary Accreditation (entry point), pursue MBGL directly (if eligible by past RAF performance), or complete an existing RAF cycle.
Step 2: Submit IIQA on the NAAC portal
The Institutional Information for Quality Assessment is the eligibility filing that initiates the process.
Step 3: Prepare data per DCF 2025
All institutional data must align with NAAC's Data Capture Formats 2025 — standardised across academic, administrative, financial, and outcome metrics.
Step 4: Build and submit the SSR with evidence
Every YES answer and every quantitative metric requires verifiable digital evidence. Form an Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC) to own SSR preparation end-to-end.
Step 5: Pass DVV (Data Validation and Verification)
NAAC's DVV team validates submitted data against supporting documents, with cross-checks against AISHE, NIRF, and other government databases via the One Nation One Data Platform.
Step 6: AI-based assessment or hybrid review
Binary uses fully digital, AI-supported assessment with stakeholder feedback. MBGL Levels 1–2 are fully digital; Level 3 is hybrid; Levels 4–5 involve on-site validation.
Step 7: Receive accreditation status
Binary outcome: Accredited or Not Accredited. Optional MBGL placement: Level 1 to Level 5.
Step 8: File AQAR annually and plan for re-accreditation
Binary and MBGL accreditation is valid for 3 years. The Annual Quality Assurance Report (AQAR) must be filed every year to track continuous improvement.
The Self-Study Report (SSR)
The SSR is structured around the seven criteria, each broken into Key Indicators containing Quantitative Metrics (QnM) and Qualitative Metrics (QlM). Under DCF 2025, the SSR is fully digital and integrates with NAAC's verification infrastructure.
QnM vs QlM: QnM are number-based metrics that are DVV-verified (e.g. number of full-time PhD faculty, library volumes, conference papers). QlM are narrative-based metrics that demonstrate institutional culture, governance, and best practices.
DVV: Data Validation and Verification
DVV is where most institutions lose marks. Every QnM data point in the SSR must be substantiated with verifiable documentary evidence — sanction letters, audited financials, attendance records, indexed publication links, geo-tagged photographs, and signed MoUs.
Under the 2025 reforms, DVV is significantly more automated, with the One Nation One Data Platform cross-referencing institutional claims against UGC, AICTE, AISHE, and NIRF databases. Discrepancies surface automatically.
Edhitch publishes a separate Binary NAAC Compliance Automation Guide covering criterion-wise evidence strategies.
Legacy CGPA grading scale (for reference)
The CGPA-based grading scale used under the Revised Accreditation Framework (RAF) is being phased out, but remains valid for institutions in Cycle 2 and above until the new framework is fully implemented. For reference:
| CGPA Range | Grade | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 3.51 – 4.00 | A++ | Accredited |
| 3.26 – 3.50 | A+ | Accredited |
| 3.01 – 3.25 | A | Accredited |
| 2.76 – 3.00 | B++ | Accredited |
| 2.51 – 2.75 | B+ | Accredited |
| 2.01 – 2.50 | B | Accredited |
| 1.51 – 2.00 | C | Accredited |
| ≤ 1.50 | — | Not Accredited |
RAF grades remain valid for 5 years from the date of original award. Under the 2025 framework, future cycles will move to Binary + MBGL.
Strategies to improve your accreditation outcome
1. Treat NAAC as one piece of an integrated quality strategy
NAAC, NBA, and NIRF have approximately 68% overlap in underlying data requirements. Institutions that build one integrated data architecture outperform those running three parallel processes. See our integrated NAAC-NBA-NIRF strategy guide.
2. Build evidence discipline year-round
Under Binary and MBGL, every claim needs digital evidence. Year-round evidence collection is no longer optional; it is the operating model.
3. Strengthen IQAC governance
The IQAC is the institutional unit responsible for quality assurance. Strong IQACs maintain a unified evidence repository, drive faculty alignment, and own AQAR submission.
4. Run a pre-submission readiness audit
An independent diagnostic identifies vulnerabilities before submission. See NAAC Readiness Audit and NAAC Readiness Reality Check.
5. Plan for MBGL progression from Day 1
If your institution has the maturity for MBGL Level 3 or above, plan the documentation accordingly from the start of the cycle. Retrofitting evidence late in the cycle is significantly harder than building it in.
Frequently asked questions
What is NAAC accreditation in 2026?
NAAC accreditation is a quality assessment process for Indian higher education institutions, conducted by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council under the UGC. As of 2025, NAAC operates a two-tier model: a Binary Accreditation Framework (Accredited / Not Accredited) and the optional Maturity-Based Graded Levels framework (Levels 1 to 5). Institutions are evaluated across 7 criteria using AI-supported, evidence-based digital assessment.
What is the difference between Binary NAAC and MBGL?
Binary Accreditation is the entry-level NAAC evaluation that returns a simple Accredited or Not Accredited status, based on YES or NO responses backed by digital evidence. MBGL (Maturity-Based Graded Levels) is the optional progressive framework, with Levels 1 (Basic) to 5 (Global Excellence), assessing institutional maturity across teaching, research, governance, and infrastructure. Institutions clear Binary first, then can pursue MBGL.
Has NAAC replaced the A++ to C CGPA grades?
Yes. As announced by NAAC on February 10, 2025, the legacy CGPA-based grading (A++, A+, A, B++, B+, B, C) has been replaced by the new Binary Accreditation Framework plus optional MBGL Levels 1-5. Institutions in Cycle 2 and above under the Revised Accreditation Framework may retain their current grade until the new frameworks are fully implemented.
What are the 7 criteria of NAAC?
The seven NAAC criteria are: Curricular Aspects; Teaching-Learning and Evaluation; Research, Innovations and Extension; Infrastructure and Learning Resources; Student Support and Progression; Governance, Leadership and Management; and Institutional Values and Best Practices. These remain the structural basis of evaluation under both Binary and MBGL frameworks.
How long does NAAC accreditation take?
Binary Accreditation under the 2025 reforms can take a few months once digital documents are ready, since AI-based assessment replaces the multi-month peer-team visit cycle. MBGL Level progression takes longer, particularly Levels 3 and above which involve hybrid or on-site validation. SSR preparation typically requires 6 to 9 months of disciplined data work.
What is the validity of NAAC accreditation?
Binary and MBGL accreditation are valid for three years. The legacy RAF grades remain valid for five years from the date of the original accreditation award.
What is the difference between SSR, AQAR, and IIQA?
IIQA (Institutional Information for Quality Assessment) is the eligibility filing that initiates the NAAC process. SSR (Self-Study Report) is the comprehensive evidence document submitted after IIQA approval. AQAR (Annual Quality Assurance Report) is filed every year by accredited institutions to track ongoing quality.
Who is eligible for NAAC accreditation?
Higher education institutions in India recognized by UGC, AICTE or another statutory body are eligible. Under the 2025 framework, institutions need at least four years of operation or one graduating batch. Foreign universities operating campuses in India can now also apply.
Official sources
- National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) — Official Portal
- University Grants Commission (UGC) — India
- All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE)
- Ministry of Education, Government of India
This guide is reviewed and updated quarterly. Last reviewed: April 18, 2026.