March 13, 2025: Riva Arora, a 19 year old Uri actress and social media influencer, recently announced that she received an honorary doctorate degree in digital influencing and women empowerment from Adi Shankar Vedic University. However, netizens were quick to question the legitimacy of her degree, pointing out that it’s unusual for someone of her age and experience to receive such an honour.

Upon further investigation, it was discovered that the University’s website had several red flags, including spelling errors, a wrong Indian flag, and no rating or enrolments for their courses. The address listed on the website also didn’t match any constructed structure on Google Maps.

Many have expressed scepticism about the authenticity of Riva’s doctorate degree, with some even calling it a scam. The incident has sparked a wider conversation about the growing trend of honorary doctorates being awarded to young influencers and celebrities.