The University Grants Commission (UGC) that is charged with coordination, determination and maintenance of standards of higher education in the country, issued a notice on November 10 to 123 deemed to be universities regarding the use of the word ‘University’ in their name.
“The institutions are hereby directed to restrain from using the word ‘university’ with its name, failing which necessary action would be initiated in accordance with the UGC Regulations. Instead, these institution may mention the word ‘Deemed to be University’ within parenthesis,” the UGC said in its order.
This move was implemented when the UGC noticed that many institutions were using the word ‘university’ in their name despite having a deemed status. A deemed status is an accreditation awarded to an institution (which is not a university) for its high standard in specific areas of study. These institutions being granted the deemed status by the Department of Higher Education, enjoy academic status and privileges of a university.
It all began when deemed varsities began giving engineering degrees through correspondence courses. The Supreme Court, however, in its November 3 ruling cancelled these engineering degrees. The apex court also suspended such degrees between the year 2001 and 2005 which were granted by deemed universities.
The November 10 UGC order came into action days after the Supreme Court ruled that technical education cannot be provided through correspondence course.
The same UGC circular, however carried an implicit cognizance saying that some deemed to be universities may not be at fault. The reason for this being the government itself notified the deemed status to these institutions with the use of the word ‘university’ in their name. UGC Secretary PK Thakur stated that such deemed varsities can apply for an alternative name with the HRD Ministry.
Following is the list of the deemed varsities that have been notified with the UGC order:
- Gandhi Institute of Technology and Management (GITAM), Visakhapatnam
- Koneru Lakshmaiah Education Foundation, Guntur
- Rashtriya Sanskrit Vidyapeeth, Tirupati
- Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, Anantapur
- Vignan’s Foundation for Science, Technology and Research, Guntur
- North Eastern Regional Institute of Science & Technology
- Nava Nalanda Mahavihara
- Punjab Engineering College
- Indian Agricultural Research Institute
- Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT)
- Indian Law Institute
- Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences (ILBS)
- Jamia Hamdard
- National Museum Institute of History of Art, Conservation and Musicology
- National University of Educational Planning & Administration
- Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthana
- Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri Rashtriya Sanskrit Vidyapith
- TERI School of Advanced Studies
- Gujarat Vidyapith
- Sumandeep Vidyapeeth
- Lingaya’s University
- Maharishi Markandeshwar University
- Manav Rachna International University
- National Brain Research Centre
- National Dairy Research Institute
- National Institute of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship & Management
- Central Institute of Buddhist Studies
- Birla Institute of Technology-Mesra
- B.L.D.E. University
- Christ University
- Indian Institute of Science (IISc)-Bangalore
- International Institute of Information Technology
- Jagadguru Sri Shivarathreeswara University
- Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research
- Jain University
- K.L.E. Academy of Higher Education and Research
- Manipal Academy of Higher Education
- NITTE University
- Sri Devraj Urs Academy of Higher Education and Research
- Sri Siddhartha Academy of Higher Education
- Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana
- Yenepoya University
- Chinmaya Vishwavidyapeeth
- Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology
- Kerala Kalamandalam
- Lakshmibai National Institute of Physical Education
- Bharati Vidyapeeth
- Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Fisheries
- D.Y. Patil Educational Society
- Datta Meghe Institute of Medical Sciences
- Deccan College Postgraduate & Research Institute
- Dr. D.Y. Patil Vidyapeeth
- Gokhale Institute of Politics & Economics
- Homi Bhabha National Institute
- Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research
- Institute of Armament Technology
- International Institute for Population Sciences
- Institute of Chemical Technology
- Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences
- MGM Institute of Health Sciences
- Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies
- Padmashree Dr. D.Y. Patl Vidyapeeth
- Pravara Institute of Medical Sciences
- SYMBIOSIS International University
- Tata Institute of Fundamental Research
- Tata Institute of Social Sciences
- Tilak Maharashtra Vidyapeeth
- Kalinga Insitute of Industrial Technology
- Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences,
- Sant Longowal Institute of Engineering and Technology (SLIET)
- Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology
- Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth
- Banasthali Vidyapith
- Birla Institute of Technology & Science
- Institute of Advanced Studies in Education
- I.I.S. (Deemed to be University)
- Jain Vishva Bharati Institute
- Janardan Rai Nagar Rajasthan Vidyapeeth
- LNM Institute of Information Technology
- Academy of Maritime Education and Training
- Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham
- Avinashilingam Institute for Home Science & Higher Education for Women
- Bharath Institute of Higher Education & Research
- B.S. Abdur Rahman Institute of Science & Technology
- Chennai Mathematical Institute
- Chettinad Academy of Research and Education (CARE)
- Gandhigram Rural Institute
- Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science (HITS)
- Kalasalingam Academy of Research and Higher Education
- Karunya Institute of Technology and Sciences
- Karpagam Academy of Higher Education
- Karpagam Academy of Higher Education
- M.G.R. Educational and Research Institute
- Meenakshi Academy of Higher Education and Research
- Noorul Islam Centre for Higher Education,
- Periyar Maniammai Institute of Science & Technology (PMIST)
- Ponnaiyah Ramajayam Institute of Science & Technology (PRIST),
- S.R.M Institute of Science and Technology
- Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology
- Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences
- Shanmugha Arts, Science, Technology & Research Academy (SASTRA)
- Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi Vishwa Mahavidyalaya
- Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute
- St. Peter’s Institute of Higher Education and Research
- Vel’s Institute of Science, Technology & Advanced Studies (VISTAS)
- Vellore Institute of Technology
- Vinayaka Mission’s Research Foundation
- Vel Tech Rangarajan Dr. Sagunthala R & D Institute of Science and
- International Institute of Information Technology,
- ICFAI Foundation for Higher Education
- Sam Higginbottom Institute of Agriculture, Technology & Sciences
- Bhatkhande Music Institute
- Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies
- Dayalbagh Educational Institute
- Indian Veterinary Research Institute
- Jaypee Institute of Information Technology
- Nehru Gram Bharati Vishwavidyalaya
- Shobit Institute of Engineering & Technology
- Santosh University
- Forest Research Institute
- Gurukul Kangri Vishwavidyalaya
- Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Educational and Research Institute
