UGC Flags Karnataka Colleges Over 132 Pending Fee Refund Complaints

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has sought intervention over higher education institutions that have not complied with its fee refund policy. A Karnataka-focused report on the issue cites 132 unresolved student complaints involving at least 78 colleges and universities. The cases relate to College Admissions cancelled between 2020 and 2025, and the complaint tally shows that many students say they have received no refund.

The UGC published a letter titled “Intervention on Non-Compliance with UGC Fee Refund Policy” on October 16, 2026. The communication asks for intervention to improve compliance after earlier notices, follow-ups and consultations did not resolve a number of refund grievances. Its official letter and attachments are available through the UGC notices page.

Karnataka complaint snapshot

Reported detail	Number or period
Unresolved fee refund complaints	132
Colleges and universities named	At least 78
Cases with a partial refund	22
Cases with no refund reported	110
Admission cancellations covered	2020–2025

The complaints concern students who say they cancelled admission within the applicable period but did not receive the refund they expected. Reported cases involve several types of programmes, including engineering, management, law and allied health sciences. The figures describe complaints and do not, by themselves, establish the outcome of an individual case or a final finding against every institution named.

UGC fee refund rules: what students should check

Refund eligibility depends on the UGC policy and admission schedule applicable to the student’s academic year, along with the date the institution received the written withdrawal request. Students should keep a copy of the cancellation application, fee receipts, admission offer, refund policy and all correspondence with the institution. They should check whether the institution acknowledged the withdrawal and whether its refund calculation explains any deduction.

UGC’s October 2018 notification on fee refunds and non-retention of original certificates sets out a time-based refund framework and provides for action against institutions that fail to comply. Because later UGC communications and academic-year policies may apply, students should verify the rule for their own admission cycle rather than rely on a generic refund percentage.

Important dates

Date	Development
December 17, 2020 to June 12, 2024	Period covered by UGC fee-refund communications cited in its compliance efforts.
October 16, 2026	UGC published its letter on intervention over non-compliance with the fee refund policy.
October 28, 2026	Karnataka complaint figures were reported in the news feed.

How students can raise a complaint

Students should first submit a dated written refund request to the college or university and retain proof of delivery. If the grievance remains unresolved, they can register it through UGC e-Samadhaan and save the grievance ID to track the case. Include the programme, admission and withdrawal dates, amount paid, refund received, and copies of supporting documents. The portal provides a centralized channel for student grievances; its stated response timelines vary by complaint type.