University and Higher Education
Higher Education sector has witnessed a tremendous
increase in the number of Universities/University level Institutions &
Colleges since Independence. The number of Universities has increased 34 times
from 20 in 1950 to 677 in 2014. The sector boasts of 45 Central Universities of
which 40 are under the purview of Ministry of Education, 318 State
Universities, 185 State Private universities, 129 Deemed to be Universities, 51
Institutions of National Importance (established under Acts of Parliament)
under MoE (IITs - 16, NITs – 30 and IISERs – 5) and four Institutions
(established under various State legislations). The number of colleges has also
registered manifold increase of 74 times with just 500 in 1950 growing to
37,204, as on 31st March, 2013.
The quantum growth in the Higher Education sector is
spear-headed by Universities, which are the highest seats of learning.
In India, "University" means a University
established or incorporated by or under a Central Act, a Provincial Act or a
State Act and includes any such institution as may, in consultation with the
University concerned, be recognised by the University Grants Commission (UGC)
in accordance with the regulations made in this regard under the UGC Act, 1956.
Every year, millions of students from within the country and abroad, enter
these portals mainly for their graduate, post graduate studies while millions
leave these portals for the world outside.
Higher Education is the shared responsibility of both
the Centre and the States. The coordination and determination of standards in
Universities & Colleges is entrusted to the UGC and other statutory
regulatory bodies.
The Central Government provides grants to the UGC and
establishes Central Universities/Institutions of National Importance in the
country. The Central Government is also responsible for declaring an
educational institution as "Deemed-to-be University" on the recommendations
of the UGC.
At present, the main categories of
University/University-level Institutions are :- Central Universities, State
Universities, Deemed-to-be Universities and University-level institutions.
These are described as follows:
Central University:
A university established or incorporated by a Central
Act.
State University:
A university established or incorporated by a
Provincial Act or by a State Act.
Private University:
A university established through a State/Central Act
by a sponsoring body viz. A Society registered under the Societies Registration
Act 1860, or any other corresponding law for the time being in force in a State
or a Public Trust or a Company registered under Section 25 of the Companies
Act, 1956.
Deemed-to-be University:
An Institution Deemed to be University, commonly
known as Deemed University, refers to a high-performing institution, which has
been so declared by Central Government under Section 3 of the University Grants
Commission (UGC) Act, 1956.
Institution of National Importance:
An Institution established by Act of Parliament and
declared as Institution of National Importance.
Institution under State Legislature Act:
An Institution established or incorporated by a State
Legislature Act.
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