Chennai: Anna University has come out with 10-digit faculty identification number (FIN) to fight the fake faculty issue from the 2026-27 academic year. The university has directed all engineering faculty to register their personal, academic credentials along with a geotagged picture within the campus to get the new ID before April 30.The university also asked the respective principals to verify the details of their faculty members.“It has been mandated to verify and authenticate faculty details using biometric (fingerprint) of each faculty, duly verified through UIDAI,” Anna University’s registrar said in a circular to all colleges.Anti-corruption NGO Arappor Iyakkam has exposed that more than 350 faculty members were shown working in multiple colleges simultaneously for the academic year 2023-24. Later, the inquiry by the university revealed more than 1,000 faculty members were shown as working in multiple institutions.The suspension of former vice-chancellor R Velraj by the university’s syndicate was set aside by then Governor R N Ravi. This case is pending in court. Madras High Court also quashed a DVAC case against previous affiliation director V R Giridev.Meanwhile, the colleges were worried about the delay in the affiliation process for the 2026-27 academic year. It was not clear whether the university will conduct physical inspection of engineering colleges this year.However, the university sought details from the colleges for granting extension of affiliation.“AICTE’s extension of affiliation, students’ intake, UG, PG programmes offered, laboratory facilities, availability of classrooms, library and building plans and land details shall be furnished by the principal in the application for affiliation,” the university said in the circular.The university used to send inspection committees to physically verify the deatails submitted by colleges.
