UGC Guidelines
Types of Higher Education Institutions
State Universities
● Established by the local legislative
assembly act
● Run by state government
● Eligible for funding from State and
Central Government/UGC
● UGC (Section 12b of UGC Act,
1956)- development grants +
grants under special schemes
● Assistance
Special grants for universities
such as Agricultural Universities
with Engineering and Technical
departments.
● Conducts their own admission
procedure
● status” ) including salary and
Grants degrees to the students
● Conducts their own exams
● Can decide their own syllabus
Deemed-To-Be
Central Universities Private Universities
Universities
● Autonomy granted by the CG on
● Established by the Act of ● Established through a State
advice of UGC under Section 2(f) /Central Act by a sponsoring
Parliament
of UGC act to higher education body viz. a Society registered
● Direct supervision of DHE,
institutions apart from under the Societies Registration
MHRD
universities - “deemed to be Act 1860, or any other
● Fully funded by CG. UGC
university” corresponding law for the time
● provides: a) Development being in force in a State or a
A charitable or a not-for-profit
assistance b) Maintenance Public Trust or a Company
Society/Trust/Company under
registered under Section 25 of the
Section 8 of Companies Act,
40 Central Universities - plan Companies Act, 1956
2013, can also be the Society for
grant + other grants under ● Eligible for funds from trusts,
the deemed to be University income from fees etc. (Exception:
● UGC schemes*
Can continue to raise funds from some private universities are
24 Central Universities -
other sources ( as it was before eligible for government funds)**
maintenance grants
the grant of “deemed to be ● Include State-Private Universities
● Conducts admission procedure
● Conducts their own admission
● Can decide their own syllabus
non-salary expenses procedure
● Conducts their own exams
● Eligible to raise development and ● Can decide their own syllabus
● Grants degrees to the students
maintenance grants from UGC ● Conducts their own exams
● Can grant degrees to the students
 Institutes of National Importance

● Institutes of National Importance (INI) are premier public

higher education institutions who are granted the INI
status by the Act of Parliament.
● sub-grouped under different specialised sectors namely-
Agricultural Sciences, Design, Engineering, Food
Processing, General, Information Technology, Language
Studies, Management, Medicine, Pharmacy, Science &
Engineering, Sciences, and Youth Affairs
● They are autonomous institutions - enjoy full autonomy
or independence in deciding courses, syllabus, admissions
and fees. Can grant degrees
● Funds from GoI + have the flexibility to raise funds
from external sources i.e. Alumni Funding,
Endowment Funds, etc.
● IITs, IIMs, IIITs, AIIMS etc. (141 INIs)
Institutes such as IIST, CSIR, ICAR etc.
IIST: Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) is a Deemed to be University under Section 3 of the UGC
Act 1956. IIST functions as an autonomous body under the Department of Space, Government of India.

IISc: Indian Institute of Science is a public Deemed to be University for research and education. It was granted the
autonomous status in 1958 and IoE in 2018. IISC raises research funds from the institutions listed below in the speaker
notes. While IISc receives government funding, it has the flexibility of raising funding of a similar amount by itself.

CSIR: Although it is mainly funded by the Ministry of Science and Technology, it operates as an autonomous body
through the Societies Registration Act, 1860. 38 laboratories/institutes, 39 outreach centers, 3 Innovation Centers and
5 units.

ICAR: The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) is an autonomous body responsible for co-ordinating
agricultural education and research in India. It reports to the Department of Agricultural Research and Education,
Ministry of Agriculture. All higher education institutes under ICAR are considered to be “deemed to be universities”.
The research institutions under ICAR, like IISc can raise funds from external sources:
https://www.icar.org.in/files/externally-25012017.pdf
 CCAMP | INSTEM

● Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms (C-CAMP)

Registered as a Section 25 Company,(Section 8 of Co’s ● The Institute for Stem Cell Science and Regenerative
Act 2013- Section 25 companies are 'non- profit' Medicine (inStem), Bangalore, an autonomous institute
companies are granted license and registered as any of the Department of Biotechnology, India. Societies
other company and may be a public or private Act.
company.) jointly promoted by National Centre For
Biological Sciences (NCBS) & Institute of Stem Cell
Biology and Regenerative Medicine (inStem) under the
aegis of Dept of Bio-Technology (DBT) Govt. of India

FUNDING:

● C-CAMP has partnered with BIRAC for the Biotechnology

Ignition Grant (BIG) Scheme, which funds young
companies and individuals to establish proof-of-concept
data for their exciting ideas in the field of life sciences.
BIRAC would invite proposals for Ignition grant at least
twice a year. The BIG Scheme would be implemented
through BIG Partners across the country.
● C-CAMP also partnered with Beyond Next Ventures
(LoI)
 Autonomous Institutions and Colleges
Autonomous institutes and colleges exercise independent control over their daily operations,
syllabus, courses offered and admission procedure. They fall under the administrative control of
Department of Higher Education (DHE), MHRD.

Auntonmous Autonomous
Universities Colleges
Nature of UGC Scheme for Autonomous
Institutions

The Commission will provide assistance under this scheme to autonomous colleges to meet their additional
and special needs such as,

● Up-gradation of syllabus on regular basis making it skill oriented with quantifiable outcomes.
● Orientation and re-training of teachers.
● Re-designing courses and development of teaching/learning material Workshop, seminars,
conferences and meetings.
● Examination reforms.
● Furniture for office, classrooms, library and laboratories, Library equipment, books/journals
● Renovation and repairs not leading to construction of a new building.
● Extension Activities.
● Office equipment, teaching aids and laboratory equipment.
● Guest/visiting faculty. Capacity building for teachers.
● Development of Area Study Programmes.
 GRADED AUTONOMY (2018)
There are 3 graded categories:

Category 1 Category 2 Category 3

● NAAC score >= 3.51 ● NAAC score >=3.26 and ● Those universities or
Or <= 3.50 institutions that DO
● Corresponding Grade or Or NOT belong to Category
Score from a reputed ● Corresponding Grade or 1 or Category 2
accreditation agency Score from a reputed
empanelled by UGC accreditation agency
Or empanelled by UGC
● Ranked amongst the
top 500 world
institutions by Times
Higher Education or QS
ranking
 GRADED AUTONOMY (2018)
There are 3 graded categories:
Category 1
● Automatically eligible for central
assistance without UGC
inspection
● Can open off-campus centres
without UGC nod, however, must
arrange funds
● Can open research parks,
incubation centres, society
linkages centres without approval
● Can hire foreign faculty (with
conditions) without UGC approval
● Can admit foreign students on
merit with conditions
● Can collaborate with world’s top
500 institutes without UGC
approval
● Can provide distance learning
without UGC approval
Category 2 Category 3
● Automatically eligible for central ● To be regulated by UGC. Not
assistance without UGC allowed any exemptions that may
inspection be enjoyed by Category 1 and
● Can open off-campus centres Category 2
with UGC nod without
inspection
● Can open research parks,
incubation centres, etc. with
UGC approval
● Can hire foreign faculty (with
conditions) without UGC approval
● Can admit foreign students on
merit with conditions
● Can collaborate with world’s top
500 institutes with UGC
permission
● Can provide distance learning
with UGC approval