State Universities V/S Deemed Universities – How are they different ?

Universities are the mainstay of higher education in our country; actually, in every country in the world. They are the institutions that are responsible for the imparting of advanced and higher education among the youth in the country. They are like the finishing schools, the final steps that help students prepare for a career of their choice once they complete their higher education degrees and pass out of the college they are in.

In our earlier blogs, we discussed two of the four different kinds of universities you see in India. In the first blog we discussed the deemed universities in India, while in the second blog we discussed the state universities in India. One thing is certain: both these kinds of universities are very important when it comes to promoting and furthering higher education in the different states across the country.

So are the state universities and deemed universities the same? Given that they are listed as separate categories, the answer would seem to be a ‘no’. But is that actually the case? Are there differences between state and deemed universities? If so, what are these differences? Is there a way of determining which of them is better? Is one actually better than the other? Or is it all just in our minds? We will discuss all these in this blog.

State University  V/S  Deemed University – The Basics

There is a basic difference between a state university and a deemed university, you can see it when you study the definitions for the two. A state university is established by the passing of the required legislation by a state government. It is an educational institute established by the state government and also funded by it. It still is governed by the guidelines laid down by the UGC. There are 251 state universities in India today.

A deemed university, on the other hand, is ‘deemed to be a university’ by the UGC under Section 3 of the UGC Act of 1956. The declaration may be made by the Central Government on recommendation by the UGC. Currently, there are more than 130 deemed universities in the country, with Tamil Nadu having the highest number of them: 28.

State University V/S Deemed University – Some More Information

A state university must adopt a regulated and streamlined approach when it comes to deciding their fee structure and also their course structure. In many places the entire public higher education system is viewed as one that is weighed down by lack of funds and resources. The entire fee structure is designed such that it is not too hefty an amount for the general public to pay for their children’s education.

A deemed university, on the other hand, has the independence to design its own course. That is not all; it also has the authority to design its fees structure. There was a move in 2011 by the Ministry of Human Resources Development (MHRD) through the UGC to decide the fee structure and also the policies relating to admission for deemed universities. However, they still have their own autonomy in these matters.

Another thing about state universities is the perception of people, especially in the bigger cities, about the state of affairs in many of the state universities. Facilities in many of the deemed universities are considered to be state-of-the-art, the equipment and labs are advanced in general. A higher fee structure can be justified for many, if the facilities and syllabus are in sync with the times.

State University V/S Deemed University – The Final Analysis

In the final analysis, the two different kinds of universities – state university and deemed university – are both under the UGC in many ways, though they have their own style of functioning. State universities have their own syllabic, fees structures, and student base. The fact that most of them have been around for quite a while has its own appeal, along with the fact that they are associated with the state and not against a private group or trust.

Deemed universities have their own appeal and their own base of students. They may not have the umbrella of association with the state, but they make up for that with advanced course ware that is designed keeping the current industry trends, job market place and student’s future in mind. They have the infrastructure and the facilities to back-up the advanced course ware they offer and the dreams of big careers they nurture for their students.

Each kind of university, in the final analysis, is recognised by the UGC and by the Ministry of Human Resources and Development. The categorisation itself is done at their end. The onus is on the universities to live up to the expectations that the people and the government have from them. Deemed universities are good repositories for the latest education and research as they are evidenced by the infrastructure they have, and the