Short answer: NAAC accreditation is valid for five years from the date on the certificate (seven years for some A++ institutions in a third or later cycle). Right now most expired grades are still valid: NAAC's notice of 22 April 2026 extends any grade due to expire between 27 January 2024 and the MBGL launch until up to six months after its new MBGL accreditation launches. Use the time to get five years of data ready.
How long accreditation lasts
| Case | Validity |
|---|---|
| Standard accreditation | 5 years from the date of accreditation |
| A++ in the third or a later cycle | 7 years, as stated on the certificate |
| Due to expire between 27 January 2024 and the MBGL launch | Extended until up to 6 months after MBGL launches (NAAC notice, 22 April 2026) |
Why you can't simply reapply
NAAC stopped taking IIQA applications under the Revised Accreditation Framework (RAF) on 30 June 2024. It is replacing RAF with Basic (Binary) Accreditation, followed by Maturity Based Graded Levels (MBGL). As of November 2026, NAAC says Basic Accreditation will be "launched soon" but has not published a date. Our guide to where NAAC accreditation stands in 2026 lists the official notices.
What to do now, by how close your expiry is
| Your situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| Expired before 27 January 2024 | Not covered by the extension. Prepare to apply under Basic Accreditation as soon as it opens. |
| Expired since 27 January 2024, or expiring soon | Covered by the extension for now. Get five years of data with proof ready, so you can apply in the first window. |
| More than 15 months left | Keep filing the AQAR every year and keep proof for every number as you go. |
Our free NAAC expiry planner tells you which row you are in from the date on your certificate.
What a lapse can affect
A grade that is not covered by the extension counts as lapsed until a new one is awarded. That can affect:
- Eligibility for UGC and RUSA grants and some state schemes.
- Admissions, because students and parents check the NAAC status.
- Autonomy, new programmes and some collaborations that need a valid grade.
Why the data takes longest
Every NAAC framework so far has checked numbers against documents. Colleges that file an AQAR every year already have most of the data. The rest usually have to rebuild admissions, faculty, results, research and activity records from scattered files. Our readiness check shows which areas are weakest, so you know where to start.
Based on NAAC public notices up to 22 April 2026, as of November 2026. Confirm the current position on naac.gov.in before you act.