Short answer: As of November 2026, NAAC's old process (RAF) is closed to new applications and its new Basic (Binary) Accreditation has not opened yet. Colleges whose grade was due to expire between 27 January 2024 and the MBGL launch stay accredited until up to six months after the later MBGL accreditation launches. Use the gap to get your data in order.
The official notices, in order
| Date | What NAAC said |
|---|---|
| June 2024 | Reforms in two phases, Binary Accreditation and Maturity Based Graded Levels (MBGL), following the Dr. Radhakrishnan Committee. IIQA applications under RAF accepted until 30 June 2024. |
| 2 September 2025 | Warning against unauthorised consultancy, seminars and workshops on the new methodology. The BAF and MBGL manuals are NAAC's intellectual property. |
| 5 December 2025 | Grades due to expire between 27 January 2024 and the MBGL launch extended until up to three months after MBGL launches. |
| 22 April 2026 | That extension raised to up to six months after MBGL launches. These institutions may also opt for Basic Accreditation, "to be launched soon". They should keep improving quality through their IQAC. |
Where that leaves your college
| Your situation | Status now |
|---|---|
| Grade valid until after MBGL launches | Accredited for its normal validity. The extension does not apply. |
| Grade due to expire between 27 January 2024 and the MBGL launch | Still accredited until up to six months after MBGL launches. |
| Grade expired before 27 January 2024 | Not covered. Apply under Basic Accreditation when it opens. |
| Never accredited | Apply under Basic Accreditation when it opens. |
| Part-way through RAF (IIQA, SSR or DVV done) | You can ask NAAC's helpdesk to switch to Binary, per NAAC's FAQs. |
The free NAAC expiry planner works this out from the date on your certificate.
What the IQAC can do now
- Keep filing the AQAR every year. NAAC's own notices ask institutions to keep working through their IQAC.
- Keep proof next to every number: admissions, faculty, results, research, activities. Every NAAC framework so far has checked data against documents.
- Keep the college website up to date. It is where the public, and assessors, look first.
- Watch naac.gov.in for the Basic Accreditation window, so you can apply in the first one.
Our readiness check takes three minutes and shows where your records are weakest.
Based on NAAC public notices dated June 2024, 2 September 2025, 5 December 2025 and 22 April 2026, and NAAC's Binary Accreditation FAQs. This is a summary of public notices, not advice on NAAC's methodology. Check naac.gov.in for the current position.