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UGC Grants Category-I Autonomous Status to St. Aloysius University; Only 45 Universities in India Have It

PolityHIGH
Target:UPSC GS-IIMPSCSSC GATeachingPrelims HighMains MediumStatic GK Link
22 Jun 2026
~2 min
Source: The Hindu
Key Data:26 deemed universities with Category-I45 total universities with Category-INAAC A++ (CGPA 3.67)20% foreign faculty over sanctioned strengthSection 12B of UGC Act
Bodies:UGCNAACSt. Aloysius UniversityS-VYASA
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What This Article Covers

1.St. Aloysius University (Deemed) awarded Category-I status by UGC, making it the second deemed university in Karnataka to achieve this.

2.Only 26 out of 157 deemed universities and ~45 out of 1,292 total universities in India hold Category-I status, highlighting exclusivity.

3.Category-I status allows the university to introduce new programmes, establish off-campus centres, recruit foreign faculty up to 20% over sanctioned strength, and form international collaborations without prior UGC approval.

The Big Picture
Prelims · HighMains · Medium

St. Aloysius University (Mangaluru) has been granted Category-I status under UGC Graded Autonomy Regulations, joining an elite group of only 45 universities nationwide. This status grants significant academic and administrative flexibilities, making it a key example for understanding UGC's autonomy framework – a favourite topic for UPSC and state PSC education policy questions.

Exam Lens

Quick Exam Facts From News

Category-I Deemed Universities26 out of 157
Total Category-I Universities~45 out of 1,292
NAAC GradeA++ (CGPA 3.67/4.00)
Karnataka Deemed Universities with Category-I2 (S-VYASA & St. Aloysius)

1-Minute Revision

  • ›Category-I Deemed Universities: 26 out of 157
  • ›Total Category-I Universities: ~45 out of 1,292
  • ›Target this Data: Only 45 universities in India (including 26 deemed universities) have Category-I status.
  • ›Target this Nodal Body: University Grants Commission (UGC) – the granting authority under Graded Autonomy Regulations.
  • ›Target this Legal Point: Section 12B of the UGC Act – automatically applicable to Category-I institutions.

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Practice exam-style questions, track your score, and strengthen your recall.

Q1Static LinkageEasy

Which body grants Category-I autonomous status to universities under the Graded Autonomy Regulations?

Q2Statement-basedHard

Consider the following statements regarding UGC Category-I status:

1. Only 26 out of 157 deemed universities in India have earned Category-I status.

2. St. Aloysius University is the first deemed university in Karnataka to receive Category-I status.

3. Category-I universities are exempted from several routine regulatory approvals and inspections.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Q3Data-centricMedium

According to the article, how many universities in India have earned Category-I status?

Q4Application/ImpactMedium

What is a key academic freedom granted to Category-I universities under the UGC regulations?

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