Annexure-2

CONCEPTS AND DEFINITIONS

HIGHER EDUCATION

For the purpose of this Survey, Higher Education is defined as the education, which is
obtained after completing 12 years of schooling or equivalent and is of the duration of
at least nine months (full time) or after completing 10 years of schooling and is of the
duration of at least 3 years. The education may be of the nature of General, Vocational,
Professional or Technical education

I. TYPE OF INSTITUTIONS

All Institutions, where higher education as defined above is imparted, will be covered
in the Survey. The Institutions, covered in the Survey has been classified into three
broad categories:

(1) University/University Level Institutions

(2) Colleges/Institutions - affiliated/recognised with University
(3) Stand alone Institutions - not affiliated/recognised with University

(1) University/University Level Institutions

Under the University Grants Commission (UGC) Act, 1956, “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
recognized by the Commission in accordance with the regulations made in this behalf under this
Act.

Various Provisions under UGC Act, 1956, which are relevant for the Survey are
mentioned below:

Under Section 22(1) of UGC Act, 1956, the right of conferring or granting degrees shall be
exercised only by a University established or incorporated by or under a central Act, a Provincial
Act, a State Act or an institution deemed to be a University under section 3 or an institution
specially empowered by an Act of Parliament to confer or grant degrees.

Under Section 22(2) of UGC Act, 1956 states that Save as provided in sub-section (1), no
person or authority shall confer, or grant, or hold himself or itself out as entitled to confer or
grant, any degree.

Section 12 of the UGC Act, 1956 states Power and Functions of the University Grants
Commission:

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It shall be the general duty of the Commission to take, in consultation with the Universities or
other bodies concerned, all such steps as it may think fit for the promotion and co-ordination of
University education and for the determination and maintenance of standards of teaching,
examination and research in Universities, and for the purpose of performing its functions under
this Act, the commission may :

(h) collect information on all such matters relating to university education in India and
other countries as it thinks fit and make the same available to any university;

(i) require a University to furnish it with such information as may be needed relating to
the financial position of the University or the studies in the various branches of learning
undertaken in that University, together with all the rules and regulations relating to the
standards of teaching and examination in that University respecting each of such
branches of learning.

Thus the following degree awarding Institutions are covered in this category:

1. Central University - A university established or incorporated by a Central Act.

2. State University - A university established or incorporated by a Provincial Act
or by a State Act.
3. Open University - A University which imparts education exclusively through
distance education in any branch or branches of knowledge.
4. 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.
5. Deemed University - An Institution Deemed to be University commonly
known as Deemed University refers to a high-performing institute, which has
been so declared by Central Government under Section 3 of the University
Grants Commission (UGC) Act, 1956.
6. Institute of National Importance - An Institution established by Act of
Parliament and declared as Institution of National Importance such as All
Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), National Institute of Technology (NIT).
7. Institute Under State Legislature Act - An institution established or
incorporated by a State Legislature Act such as Nizam’s Institute of Medical
Sciences, Hyderabad; Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences, Tirupati; Shere-
e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Srinagar; Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical
Sciences, Patna; Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow.
8. Other Institute – An institution not falling in any of the above category but
established through State/ Central Act and are empowered to award degrees
e.g. National Institute of Fashion Technology established through an Act of
Parliament.
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2. Colleges/Institutions affiliated/recognised with University 

These are institutions which can run degree programmes but are not empowered to
provide degree on their own and are necessarily have to be attached with some
University/University level institution for the purpose of awarding degree. For the
purpose of the survey these institutions have been classified as under:

2.1 Colleges Affiliated with University/ University level Institutions – Under

Section 12A(1)(b), College means any Institution, whether known as such or by any other name
which provides for a course of study for obtaining any qualification from a university and which,
in accordance with the rules and regulations of such university, is recognised as competent to
provide for such course of study and present students undergoing such course of study for the
examination for the award of such qualification. These are the institutions established or
maintained by, or admitted to the privileges of the University.

Colleges can be of two types:

(i) University/ Constituent College - A college maintained by the University
(ii) Affiliated College
 
Some colleges are given Autonomous Status. UGC has introduced a scheme of
Autonomous colleges keeping in view the objectives of the National Education Policy
(1986-92).
All Colleges under Section 2(f) & 12(b) of the UGC Act are eligible under the Scheme.
Criteria for identification of institutions for grant of autonomy are as follows:
a. Academic reputation and previous performance in university examinations
and its academic/co-curricular/extension activities in the past.
b. Academic/extension achievements of the faculty.
c. Quality and merit in the selection of students and teachers, subject to statutory
requirements in this regard.
d. Adequacy of infrastructure, for example, library, equipment, accommodation for
academic activities, etc.
e. Quality of institutional management.
f. Financial resources provided by the management/state government for the
development of the institution.
g. Responsiveness of administrative structure.
h. Motivation and involvement of faculty in the promotion of innovative
reforms.

The Parent University awards degrees to the students, evaluated and recommended by
colleges. Autonomous colleges that have completed three year terms can confer the
degree under their title with the seal of the university.

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2.2 Institutions Recognised by the University: These are the institutions attached
with the University for the purpose of awarding degree in respect of programmes being
run in these institutions. e.g. Army Cadet College Wing, Indian Military Academy, Dehradun
is not affiliated with any University but the degree in respect of Programmes run in the institute
are awarded by Jawaharlal Nehru University.

2.3 Off-Campus Centre/ PG Centre - A centre of the University established by it,

outside the main campus (within or outside the state) operated and maintained as its
constituent unit, having the University’s compliment of facilities, faculty and staff.

2.4 Off-shore Campus - A campus of the Private University or Deemed to be

University established by it outside the country, operated and maintained as its
constituent unit, having the University’s compliment of facilities, faculty and staff.

2.5 Regional Centre - A centre established and maintained or recognized by the

University for the purpose of the coordination of the functioning of the Study Centres in
the region, advising, counseling or for rendering any other assistance required by the
students used in the context of regular/ distance education.

2.6 Study Centre - A centre established and maintained or recognized by the

university for the purpose of advising, counseling or for rendering any other assistance
required by the students.

Evening College – The College in which education is imparted in the evening. It may
be noted that in a few colleges, using the same infrastructure, education is imparted in
two sessions-morning or day and evening. Generally, for all practical purposes these
are treated as two colleges.

(3) Stand alone Institutions not affiliated/recognised with University

There are several institutions which are outside the purview of the University &
College. These Institutions generally run Diploma/PG Diploma level programmes for
which they require recognition from one or other Statutory Bodies. For the purpose of
this survey, such Institutions will be referred as Stand-alone Institution. Such
Institutions mainly fall under following categories:

- Indian Institute of Management (IIM) awarding PG Diploma in Management of two

years duration whose entry qualification is Graduate.
- Diploma awarding Institutions under the control of All India Council for Technical
Education (AICTE) e.g. Lal Bahadur Shastri Management Institute awarding PG diplomas
in Management of two years duration whose entry qualification is Graduate.

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- Diploma awarding Institutions under the control of Indian Nursing Council (INC).
- Government or Government recognised Institutions to conduct Teachers Training
courses whose entry qualification is 10+2 e.g. District Institute of Educational and
Training (DIET) or similar institutes.
- Polytechnics.
- Company Secretary, Charted Accountancy, Actuarial Science etc.

Institution for Women: An Institution which enrolls only female students in all its
programmes is categorised as Institution for Women. Such institutes may or may not
have male teaching and non-teaching staff.

II. FACULTY, DEPARTMENT AND PROGRAMME

Faculty - A Faculty of Studies of the University.

Department - A Department of Studies and includes a Centre of Studies.

For the purpose of survey, the School will be treated similar to Faculty and Centre will
be treated similar to the Department.

Programme – It is a course of study for which Degree or Certificate is awarded by the

Institution. A Programme of study is the approved curriculum followed by an
individual student such as B.A, M.A, MBA etc.

Levels of Programmes:

1. Under-Graduate - Programme after 10+2 and generally having the duration of

3/4/5 years, in General or Professional courses.
2. Post-Graduate - Programme after Graduation and generally having the duration
of 2/3 years in General/Professional courses.
3. M.Phil - Programme after Post-Graduation and generally having the duration of
1/2 years and are pre-research course.
4. Ph.D - Programme after M.Phil or Post-Graduation and generally having the
duration of 2/3/4/5 years.
5. Post Graduate Diploma - Programme generally after 10+2 or after Graduation in
General and Professional courses and having duration of 1/2/3 years.
6. Diploma - Programme generally after 10+2 or after Graduation in General and
Professional courses and having duration of 1/2/3 years.
7. Certificate – It is a Programme similar to Diploma, but is awarded a Certificate
by the Institution.

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8. Integrated/Dual Degree – It is a Programme leading to Post-Graduate Degree

and/or Research Degree. Generally it is a combination of two degree
programmes e.g. M.Tech Ph.D, B.A. LLB, M.Sc. Ph.D, B.Tech M.Tech etc.

Discipline - An academic discipline or field of study is a branch of knowledge that is

taught and researched at the Institution. There are large numbers of disciplines, which
are taught in various Institutions and their nomenclature varies from Institution to
Institution.

For example in case of M.A. in Geography, M.A. is a Programme and Geography is a discipline.

III. MODE OF HIGHER EDUCATION

Regular Mode i.e. Formal system of Higher Education - Education provided in the
system of Colleges, Universities and other formal educational institutions where the
students getting education in a classroom in direct contact with the teachers and also
make use of other infrastructure facilities like laboratories, library etc to enhance its
learning capacity.

Self-Financing Courses in Regular Mode - Government Aided Universities/Colleges/

Institutions conducting certain career oriented courses without the financial support of
the Government. The recurring expenditure to run these courses is being met by
students’ fees etc.

Distance/Correspondence Mode i.e. Non-Formal system of Higher Education - The

system of imparting education through broadcasting, telecasting, internet,
correspondence courses, seminars, contact programmes or the combination of any two
or more such means of communication.

IV. MANAGEMENT OF UNIVERSITY /COLLEGE/INSTITUTION

Central Government - Universities/Colleges/Institutions which are maintained by

Central Government whether directly or indirectly e.g. University of Delhi is a Central
University. Dyal Singh College is a University College of University of Delhi which is getting
maintenance grant from UGC.

State Government - Universities/Colleges/Institutions which are maintained by State

Government whether directly or indirectly e.g. Choudhry Charan Singh University, Meerut
is a State University getting maintenance grant from Uttar Pradesh Government.

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Local Body - Colleges/Institutions which are managed by the local body such as
Panchayats (as defined in Art 243 read with 243 B of the Constitution), Municipalities
(as defined in Article 243 P read with 243 Q of the Constitution), Cantonment Boards,
Town Area Committees and any other bodies of the local self government constituted
under a law. e.g. Firoz Gandhi College & C.P.Verma College, Patna affiliated to Magadh
University.

Private Aided - Institutions, which are managed by an Individual, Trust, Society or

Other Private Organization and receive regular maintenance grants from Government
or Local Body. e.g. Hindu College, Delhi affiliated to University of Delhi.

Private Un-aided - Institutions, which are managed by an Individual, Trust, Society or

Other Private Organization, which is either not receiving any grant or in receipt of one-
time ad-hoc grant for a specific purpose like building construction, strengthening of
library or laboratory, one-time subsidy towards teacher salary etc., but not receiving
regular maintenance grant. e.g Chanchalben Mafatlal Patel College of Nursing, Ahemadabad.

V. STUDENT

Student means a student of the Institution and includes any person who has enrolled
himself/ herself for pursuing any programme of study conducted by the Institution.

Foreign Student means those students who are citizens of a country other than India.

Students’ intake is annual permitted strength for a particular programme of study

which means the number of seats in a programme.

Students’ enrolment is total students on roll in a Programme as on 30th September of

the academic year, as explained below through an example:

Programme: MCA Duration: 3 years

Year Students enrolled

1 Year
st 30
2nd year 29
3rd year 28
Total Enrolment 87

VI. TEACHING STAFF

Teacher is defined as a faculty/staff assigned the professional activities of instructing

pupils, providing knowledge and giving guidance in the subject area of studies in self
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contained classes or courses or in class room situations. Generally the designation of

teaching staff are Vice-Chancellor, Director, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Principal, Professor &
Equivalent, Associate Professor, Reader, Lecturer (Selection Grade), Assistant Professor,
Lecturer (Senior Scale), Lecturer, Tutor, Demonstrator, Part-Time Teacher, Ad hoc
Teacher, Temporary Teacher, Contract Teacher, Visiting Teacher.

Sanctioned strength of Teaching Staff means the number of posts sanctioned

designation-wise like Professor, Associate Professor and Assistant Professor etc.

Existing strength (Teachers in position) means the number of teachers currently in

position against each post working in the University/Department on a particular date.

Career Advancement Scheme (CAS) is a scheme of UGC to promote Teachers from a

few selected stages to higher stages.

Grade Pay – Grade Pay is a fixed amount attached to each post in the hierarchy. Grade
pay determines the status of a post.

VII. NON-TEACHING STAFF

Non-teaching staff are staff other than Teaching staff engaged in Administrative,
Secretarial, Laboratory, Library work etc. of the University/ Institution/ College in
different level Groups i.e. Group A, Group B, Group C and Group D as defined by
Department of Personnel & Training.

VIII. RESERVATION

Person with Disability (PWD): A person suffering from a disability as defined in the
“Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Right and Full
Participation) Act, 1995”. As per Section 2 of this Act:

“Person with disability” (PWD) means a person suffering from not less than forty per
cent of any of the following disabilities as certified by a medical authority;
i. Blindness;
ii. Low vision;
iii. Leprosy-cured;
iv. Hearing impairment;
v. Locomotors disability;
vi. Mental retardation;
vii. Mental illness;

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Other Backward Classes means the class or classes of citizens who are socially and
educationally backward, and are so determined by the Central/ State Government.

Scheduled Castes means the Scheduled Castes notified under article 341 of the
Constitutions.

Scheduled Tribes means the Scheduled Tribes notified under article 342 of the
Constitution.

Religious Minority: Five religious communities, viz; Muslims, Christians, Sikhs,

Buddhists and Zorastrians (Parsis) have been notified as minority communities by the
Union Government.

IX. EXAMINATION RESULTS

Out-Turn means number of final year students of a particular programme, who have
successfully completed the programme i.e number of students who have passed the
final year examination of the programme.

X. REFERENCE PERIOD

Academic Year - The academic year is the period, during which one year or two
semesters or three trimester of a Programme is completed.

Financial Year - The financial year is the period from 1st April of the Year to 31st March
of the next year.

Reference Date - 30th September of the Academic year is taken as the reference date for
filling up the all the Blocks of DCF, except the block on Examination Results and
Financial Information. Generally all the admissions in various courses in a University,
College & Stand alone Institutions are completed before 30th September. Reference
period for financial data is Financial Year and for examination result is Academic Year.

Examination Year – It is the academic year prior to the reference date, for which
Examination Results are declared. Examination results include the final and
supplementary examination conducted during that year. In case of Ph.D, the out-turn is
the number of students, who are awarded degree during two convocations falling prior
to the reference date.

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