The state higher education department has issued a notification mentioning the appointed day, which marks the formal launch, of five universities — Biswa Bangla University, Birbhum; Kanyashree University, Nadia; Mahatma Gandhi University, East Midnapore; Hindi University, Howrah; and Rani Rashmoni Green University, Hooghly. “In the absence of the appointed day, a university cannot seek recognition from the UGC. So the notification was issued,” said an official of the higher education department. An official of Kanyashree University, an all-women institution, said the UGC had told the institution that the recognition could not be granted in the absence of an appointed day. The university had sought recognition following the appointment of its first vice-chancellor, Mita Banerjee, in September.