The National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) plays a vital role in maintaining the quality of higher education in India. Established by the University Grants Commission (UGC), it ensures that colleges and universities meet essential academic and institutional standards. In 2025, NAAC introduced a major reform, moving from the traditional CGPA-based grading to a new Binary Accreditation and Maturity-Based Graded Levels (MBGL) framework. This shift marks a digital-first, data-driven era of quality assurance. The change matters because it simplifies accreditation, reduces subjectivity, and encourages more institutions, especially smaller and regional ones, to participate. By replacing complex peer evaluations with AI-based assessments and stakeholder validation, NAAC aims to accelerate accreditation, make it fairer, and make it more transparent. In this guide, we’ll walk you through a step-by-step explanation of the NAAC Accreditation Process 2025, helping your institution understand the new framework, prepare documentation, and navigate every stage with confidence.

Understanding the New NAAC Accreditation Framework

The NAAC Accreditation 2025 reform is designed to create a smarter, more transparent, and inclusive evaluation system for Indian higher education institutions. Under the new vision, NAAC focuses on four key goals:

• Digitalization: Replacing manual evaluation with AI-driven assessments and digital document submission.
• Transparency: Using data analytics and stakeholder validation to ensure fairness.
• Inclusivity: Expanding accreditation access to all types of institutions, including smaller colleges.
• Quality Expansion: Encouraging continuous improvement through the Maturity-Based Graded Levels (MBGL) pathway.

Compared to the old Revised Accreditation Framework (RAF) — which used CGPA grades like A++, A+, or B — the new system uses a two-tier model:

1. Binary Accreditation (Accredited or Not Accredited)
2. MBGL Levels 1–5, recognizing institutions based on maturity and excellence.

NAAC still governs the process under the UGC, but is now driven by AI, digital verification, and stakeholder feedback, making it more reliable, data-backed, and scalable for the future of Indian education.

The 10 Key Assessment Attributes (New Evaluation Metrics)

The 2025 NAAC reform introduces a smarter, three-part evaluation model: Input, Process, and Output, designed to measure how effectively institutions deliver quality education. Each area focuses on different stages of institutional performance.

A. Input Attributes (25%)

These measure the foundational resources and systems that enable quality education:

• Curriculum Design: Relevance, flexibility, and alignment with NEP 2020 standards.
• Faculty Resources: Qualifications, diversity, student-teacher ratio, and development programs.
• Infrastructure: Classrooms, labs, library, and ICT facilities.
• Financial Resources and Management: Budget utilization, financial planning, and sustainability.

B. Process Attributes

These assess how well inputs are applied in daily academic operations:

• Learning and Teaching: Pedagogical innovation, teaching quality, and outcome-based education.
• Extended Curricular Engagements: Student participation in co-curricular, sports, and cultural programs.
• Governance and Administration: Leadership, planning, and internal quality systems (IQAC).

C. Output Attributes

These focus on the actual results of educational processes:

• Student Outcomes: Academic results, placements, and skill development.
• Research and Innovation Outcomes: Publications, patents, collaborations, and consultancy.
• Sustainability Outcomes: Green campus initiatives and environmental impact.

💡 Tip for HEIs: Start mapping all institutional data to these 10 attributes early. This alignment simplifies digital submission and boosts your institution’s readiness for AI-based assessment.

Eligibility Criteria for NAAC Binary Accreditation

Before applying for NAAC accreditation under the new framework, institutions must meet certain baseline requirements:

• Minimum Existence: The institution must have at least one graduating batch or four years of operation, whichever is earlier.
• Eligible Institution Types: Open to Central, State, Private, and Deemed Universities, Autonomous Colleges, and Affiliated Institutions under UGC-recognized universities.
• Data Submission Period: Institutions need to provide 1–3 years of verifiable data covering academics, research, and administration.
• Validity Period: The Binary Accreditation is valid for three years, shorter than the previous five-year cycle.
• Geographic Requirement: Only Indian institutions located within national territories are eligible; offshore campuses are excluded.

These revised criteria make the accreditation process more accessible and encourage wider participation across India’s higher education ecosystem.

NAAC Accreditation Process 2025 – Step by Step

The NAAC reform 2025 introduces a fully digital, data-driven, and validation-based accreditation workflow. Every step is designed to ensure transparency, minimize subjectivity, and encourage institutions to continuously improve.

Step 1: Determine Eligibility

Before applying, institutions must confirm their eligibility:

• The HEI must have completed at least 4 years of establishment or have one graduating batch of students.
• Eligible categories include universities, autonomous colleges, affiliated colleges, and constituent colleges recognized by UGC.
• Institutions must maintain digital records of academic, administrative, and financial data aligned with NAAC’s new Data Capture Formats (DCF 2025).

Preparation tip:

Start by digitizing historical data across key domains — curriculum plans, student records, faculty qualifications, research output, and governance metrics. This data foundation ensures readiness for AI-based assessment later in the process.

Step 2: Register and Submit Institutional Profile

Eligible HEIs begin by registering on the NAAC Accreditation Portal (2025 edition). Key tasks include:

• Filling the Institutional Profile (IP) with accurate details such as program offerings, faculty strength, infrastructure, and compliance documents.
• Uploading supporting files — such as IQAC reports, curriculum frameworks, audited financial statements, and institutional policies.
• Ensuring data consistency across all parameters, as the new NAAC system performs auto-validation using UDISE+, AISHE, and NIRF data.

Pro tip: Cross-check all data before final submission. Any inconsistency between institutional uploads and official databases may reduce credibility scores during validation.

Step 3: Digital Document Submission & AI-Driven Evaluation

This is the core of the 2025 reform — AI-based assessment replaces traditional physical peer visits. Here’s how it works:

• Institutions submit all evidence and data digitally via the NAAC portal.
• The AI engine benchmarks institutional data against peer groups and national averages.
• Weighted scores are assigned for Input, Process, and Output attributes.

Each HEI must meet a minimum threshold benchmark — for instance, 40% for colleges, 50% for autonomous institutions, and 60% for universities to move forward in the accreditation cycle. Benefit: AI evaluation ensures speed, transparency, and fairness, removing subjectivity from manual reviews.

Step 4: Stakeholder Validation & Credibility Scoring

To verify institutional claims, NAAC conducts a digital stakeholder validation survey. Around 100 stakeholders, including students, alumni, faculty, employers, and administrative staff, are selected randomly to provide feedback on institutional data. A credibility score is generated on a 0.5–1 scale, based on how well stakeholder responses align with institutional claims. Key implications:

• A low credibility score or evidence of data misrepresentation can lower the final outcome or even lead to disqualification.
• Institutions should prepare stakeholders in advance through transparent communication and authentic documentation.

Step 5: Final Binary Accreditation Decision

Once AI evaluation and validation are complete, NAAC announces the Binary Accreditation result:

• Accredited: Institution meets or exceeds the threshold benchmark.
• Not Accredited: Institution falls below benchmark requirements.

Unsuccessful HEIs can reapply after 6 months, once data is updated or deficiencies are addressed. The Binary Accreditation status remains valid for 3 years, after which re-accreditation or progression to the Maturity-Based Graded Levels (MBGL) framework can be pursued. Output: Institutions receive a digital report card detailing performance by attribute category, helping them identify improvement areas before the next cycle.

Advancing to the Maturity-Based Graded Levels (MBGL)

Institutions that achieve Binary Accreditation can progress to MBGL — Maturity-Based Graded Levels, a new model that evaluates continuous improvement beyond compliance.

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The Five Maturity Levels

1. Level 1: Foundational Maturity
2. Level 2: Institutional Strengthening
3. Level 3: Established Excellence
4. Level 4: Advanced Excellence
5. Level 5: Global Excellence

Learn more in detail about MBGL here.

How MBGL Assessment Works

• Level 1–2: Fully digital assessment.
• Level 3: Hybrid assessment (digital + sample physical verification).
• Level 4–5: Comprehensive review with on-site validation and expert interaction.

High-performing institutions may skip levels based on performance data and external validations.

Transition Options for Previously RAF-Accredited Institutions

With the rollout of the NAAC reform 2025, institutions previously accredited under the Revised Accreditation Framework (RAF) now have two clear transition pathways.

Option 1: Apply Fresh under Binary Accreditation

Institutions can choose to start afresh by applying for Binary Accreditation, which assesses compliance with the new Input–Process–Output model.

• Ideal for institutions whose previous NAAC cycle has expired or is nearing completion.
• Enables a clean digital transition using updated Data Capture Formats (DCF 2025).
• Provides a new baseline for progression to MBGL after accreditation.

Option 2: Directly Apply for Maturity-Based Graded Levels (MBGL)

HEIs with a valid RAF accreditation and strong performance metrics can directly move into the MBGL assessment stage.

• The institution’s RAF data will be recalibrated using the new evaluation matrix.
• Institutions demonstrating consistent excellence in outcomes, governance, and digital readiness can skip the Binary evaluation entirely.
• This route rewards data-mature and high-performing institutions with faster progression to higher maturity levels.

Fee and Data Adjustments

• NAAC provides fee adjustments for institutions already mid-cycle under RAF.
• Ongoing data submissions can be migrated to the new NAAC portal, ensuring no loss of institutional records.
• Institutions must update their documentation to match the Input–Process–Output attributes for validation under the digital system.

Tip: HEIs should conduct a data readiness audit before transitioning to identify gaps between RAF documentation and Binary/MBGL data requirements.

Annual Surveillance and Renewal

Accreditation under the Binary + MBGL system isn’t a one-time event — it’s a continuous quality cycle backed by annual digital surveillance.

Annual Quality Assurance Reporting (AQAR)

Every accredited institution must submit an Annual Quality Assurance Report (AQAR) through the NAAC portal.

• Reports must include yearly updates on teaching outcomes, governance metrics, research performance, and sustainability initiatives.
• Data consistency and evidence validation play a key role in maintaining the institution’s credibility score.

Three-Year Renewal Cycle

All Binary and MBGL accreditations carry a three-year validity period.

• Institutions must reapply before expiry to maintain their accreditation status or upgrade to a higher maturity level.
• Renewal evaluations factor in progress since the last accreditation, rewarding institutions that demonstrate measurable improvement.

Continuous Improvement & Data Transparency

The new system promotes a culture of continuous improvement through year-round monitoring rather than isolated review cycles.

• Institutions are encouraged to maintain real-time data dashboards and use analytics to track learning outcomes, stakeholder satisfaction, and governance metrics.
• Transparent data practices help institutions prepare seamlessly for re-accreditation and avoid compliance shocks.

Pro tip: Partnering with digital platforms that automate AQAR reporting and analytics (like Kramah’s NAAC automation solutions) ensures data accuracy, consistency, and effortless renewal readiness.

Conclusion

The Binary + MBGL Accreditation Framework represents a new era in Indian higher education, one that’s digital, transparent, and performance-driven. By shifting from CGPA-based grading to maturity-based evaluation, NAAC empowers institutions to:

• Move beyond compliance and focus on measurable outcomes.
• Use data analytics to drive academic and administrative excellence.
• Build trust through transparent, AI-validated quality assurance.

In essence, the reform modernizes how quality is measured — making accreditation not just a certification, but a roadmap for institutional growth and global competitiveness.

Future-ready institutions are those that adapt early.

Embrace digital readiness. Invest in transparent data systems. And evolve with NAAC’s vision for the next generation of higher education. Kramah’s NAAC automation and data analytics solutions simplify every stage of the accreditation journey from data collection to validation and report generation. ➡️ Prepare, validate, and submit accurate data for seamless NAAC accreditation with Kramah.