The continuing concern for quality in higher education has projected the need for evaluation of performance of universities and colleges. Due to this concern, the initiative to set up a mechanism which will encourage self assessment in institutions and also assessment and accreditation by a council came from the National Policy on Education (NPE) 1986 and the Programme of Action (POA) 1986. This has led to the establishment of the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), under section 12-CCC of UGC Act of 1956, registered under the Karnataka Societies Registration Act of 1960 and the Karnataka Societies Registration Rules of 1961 in Bangalore, on September 16, 1994

National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) is an autonomous organisation, established by the University Grants Commission (UGC), with its headquarters in Bangalore.

The main purpose of National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) is to collect and disseminate information on current and developing theory and practice in the assessment, improvement and maintenance of quality in higher education.

NAAC functions through its General Council (GC), and the Executive Committee (EC). The membership of these bodies is drawn, in addition to ex-officio members, from organisations such as University Grants Commission (UGC), All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), Association of Indian Universities (AIU), Distance Education Council (DEC) and Ministry of Human Resources Development (MHRD), from Vice-chancellors, Principals, Teachers, Scientists, Technocrats and Professional bodies. The honorary head of these bodies is a senior academic.

|