What is the Difference Between Autonomous, Deemed, Private, State & Central Universities?
When choosing a university, it is important to know what is Autonomous college, Deemed-to-be university, Private institution or State & Central University because the validity of an educational degree is of utmost importance.
Types of universities in India - There are over 1074 universities in India offering undergraduate and postgraduate courses in scores of subjects from streams like Science, Arts, Humanities, Liberal Arts, Commerce, Fine Arts, etc. All these universities in India are recognised by the University Grants Commission (UGC) to function legally and offer valid degree. The UGC recognises these institutions on the basis of various parameters. These parameters help it in classifying universities into five major categories - Central, State, Private, Autonomous and Deemed-to-be university.
When selecting a university for higher education, candidates should always look for UGC recognition to avoid falling into the trap of fake universities. Apart from the UGC, there are about 15 Professional Councils that control various aspects of institute accreditation. These government recognition and competent body accreditation are the real marker of authenticity of an institute or university. Read below to know more about Universities in India and their types - Central, State, Private, Autonomous and Deemed-to-be Universities.
- Total Number of Universities in India
- What is Central University?
- What is State University?
- What is Deemed University?
- What is Private University?
- What is Autonomous College or Institution?
- What is the Difference between Deemed University, Autonomous College & Private Institutions?
- Top Deemed Universities in India
- FAQs Related to Types of Universities in India
Total Number of Universities in India
As mentioned above, there are about 1074 universities in India. These universities are classified into Central, State, Private and Deemed-to-be universities. Take a look the table below for category-wise total number of universities in India.
| University Type |
Total Number |
|---|---|
| State Universities |
460 |
| Deemed-to-be Universities |
128 |
| Central Universities |
56 |
| Private Universities |
430 |
| Total |
1074 |
Please note, the above list doesn’t include Autonomous colleges and institutes.
What is Central University?
A central university is the one which is established by an Act of Parliament and is under the direct purview of the Department of Higher Education (DHE) under Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD). As per the latest list available, there are 56 Central universities in our country.
Salient features of a Central University:
- Conduct their own admission process
- Can decide their own syllabus
- Conduct their own exams
- Grant degrees to the students
Check: Complete list of UGC approved central universities in North India here
What is State University?
As the name suggests, a State University is established, run and funded by the state government. State universities are usually established by a local legislative assembly act. According to a UGC consolidated list, there are 460 state universities in the country. State universities can confer/grant their own degrees to the students.
Salient features of a State University:
- Conduct their own admission process
- Grant degrees to the students
- Conducts their own exams
- Can decide their own syllabus
What is Deemed University?
Many students often ask - what is deemed university? They also often as whether deemed university is private or government? Even though a deemed university offers the same courses as any other university, what is the difference? So, here is the answer. Deemed university meaning lies in the status of autonomy granted to a university by DHE under MHRD, on the advice of UGC. Deemed-to-be-Universities enjoy full autonomy or independence in deciding courses, syllabus, admissions and fees. Some Deemed to be Universities can also grant degrees on their own. Deemed-to-be Universities, which continue to perform well, can get the status of a full-fledged University. 'Deemed university' meaning, 'deemed to be university' meaning and 'deemed college' meaning are same. They are just popular variation of Deemed to be University.
According to the latest UGC list, there are 128 Deemed to be universities in the country.
Salient features of Deemed-to-be University:
- Conduct their own admission procedure
- Can decide their own syllabus
- Conduct their own exams
- May or may not grant degrees to the students
What is Private University?
Private University is also an UGC approved institute. However, it does not run on central or state funds. Private universities can grant degrees but cannot have off-campus colleges or affiliate an institution/college. “They can establish off-campus centre(s) within the concerned State after their existence of five years and with the prior approval of the University Grants Commission,” states the UGC website. Unlike State and Central universities which have a ‘Chancellor’ as the head, a private university is always headed by ‘President’ or ‘Chairperson’.
A Private University needs to adhere to UGC rules and regulations for operations. The UGC regularly sends committees to inspect Private universities. According to the latest UGC consolidated list, there 430 are private universities in the country.
Salient features of a Private University:
- Conduct their own admission procedure
- Can decide their own syllabus
- Conduct their own exams
- Can grant degrees to the students
What is Autonomous College or Institution?
Autonomous colleges and institutes 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.
However, there’s difference between Autonomous Institutes and Autonomous Colleges.
Autonomous College are those which are affiliated to a certain university. These colleges can conduct their own admission procedure and exams. However, at the end of course completion, they cannot issue their own degree or diploma. The final degree or diploma is issued by the affiliated university.
Autonomous Institutes, like deemed-to-be universities, enjoy full autonomy or independence in deciding courses, syllabus, admissions and fees. However, they can grant diplomas and not degrees.
Some autonomous institutes are permitted to award degrees, though they are not referred to as Universities. These institutes include the Indian Institute of Management (IIMs), Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs), National Institutes of Technology (NITs), All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), etc.
Salient features of Autonomous institutes and colleges:
- Conduct their own admission procedure
- Can decide their own syllabus
- Conduct their own exams
- May or may not grant diploma or degree to students
What is the Difference between Deemed University, Autonomous College & Private Institutions?
Take a look at the table below to understand the basic difference between Deemed-to-be, Autonomous and Private Colleges.
| What is Deemed university? |
What is Autonomous college? |
What is Private institution? |
|---|---|---|
| Can decide their own syllabus |
Autonomous college meaning, more academic freedom to change courses and syllabus |
Can decide their own syllabus |
| Can grant diploma or degree to students |
Degrees are mostly awarded by affiliated university (except for some Central / state funded institutes like IIMs and IITs) |
Can grant diploma or degree to students, post approval from UGC |
| Full autonomy or independence in deciding courses, syllabus, admissions and fees |
Independent control over their daily operations, syllabus, admission procedure |
Needs to adhere to UGC rules and regulations for daily operations |
| Autonomy granted by Department of Higher Education (DHE), MHRD, on the advice of UGC |
Fall under the administrative control of Department of Higher Education (DHE), MHRD |
UGC approved institutes |
Top Deemed Universities in India
Some of the popular Deemed universities in India are listed below:
- IISC Bangalore
- Manipal Academy of Higher Education
- Birla Institute of Technology & Science
- Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham
- Institute of Chemical Technology
- Vellore Institute of Technology
- Jamia Hamdard
- Homi Bhabha National Institute
- SRM Institute of Science and Technology
- JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research
- Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology
- Tata Institute of Social Sciences
- National Institute of Technology Rourkela
- Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology
- D. Y. Patil Vidyapeeth
- Symbiosis International
- Jain University
- S. Ramaiah University
- Koneru Lakshmaiah Education Foundation University
Check popular Science, Commerce, and Humanities colleges in India, below:
| Humanities & Social Sciences Colleges in India | Commerce Colleges in India | Science Colleges in India |
FAQs Related to Types of Universities in India
Q: What is the difference between Deemed to be and Autonomous universities?
A: Deemed-to-be universities enjoy full autonomy or independence in administration and operations, while Autonomous universities are affiliated to the government. The degree offered for a course at an Autonomous college is by the affiliate university. They enjoy freedom in deciding syllabus, pedagogy, etc.
Q: Deemed University is private or government?
A: Deemed university is neither completely private and nor completely under the government. A Deemed-to-be university is affiliated to the UGC but enjoys autonomy in deciding courses, syllabus, fees and admission process.
Q: Is Autonomous University government or private?
A: An Autonomous university is financially supported by the government but is independent to decide the courses, syllabus, fees, appointments and admission process. There is no day to day interference by the government in the daily functioning of the university.
Q: What is the difference between Private and Deemed University?
A: There is not much difference between a Private University and a Deemed-to-be University. Both are recognised by the UGC. However, a Deemed University enjoys autonomy in administration while a Private University has to adhere to UGC rules and regulations in conduction of classes, exams, syllabus and admission process.
Q: Are IIMs government institutes?
A: No, the IIMs are autonomous institutes funded by the Central Government. The government has no say in day to day functioning of the IIMs. The institutes have the right to decide the fees, infrastructure, course, pedagogy and other such aspects for the betterment of their students. The government provides them land to set up new campuses.
Q: Which is better – Private or Deemed University?
A: Both types of universities are good as they are government recognised, offer degree, diploma and certification courses and follow the latest syllabus and pedagogy for the courses offered. A student must choose the university as per their choice of course, its fee structure, reputation, location and placements prospects.
Q: Is the degree of Deemed-to-be University valid?
A: Yes, the degree of a Deemed-to-be University is valid and reputable as it is recognised by the government of India. Some of the well known universities of India including Symbiosis International University, Pune, are Deemed-to-be. The deemed-to-be status doesn't come in way of the institute's quality of education and training.
Q: What is the difference between Central and State University?
A: Central university is funded by the Central government and State university is funded by the State government. Central universities follow rules and regulations defined by the MHRD while the State university follows the State governments guidelines regarding admission, exams, fees, appointments, etc.
Q: Which is better – State University or Central University?
A: Both the State and Central universities are good and valuable in their own right. Many students who do not want to relocate from their hometown prefer to go for admission in State University. Also, the competition for admission in State university is less than in a Central university as the number of applicants in the former is restricted to the state, while in case of latter, applications are received from across India. Also, State universities have quote for domicile students.
Q: Can Private universities offer degree courses?
A: Yes, Private universities can offer degree courses, that are recognised by the UGC. Any educational institution which has been recognised as a University by the UGC and MHRD, can offer degree programmes.
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