In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,—
(a) “appropriate authority” means the University Grants Commission established under the University Grants Commission Act, 1956 (3 of 1956), or any other authority or body established by or under a Central Act for the determination, coordination or maintenance of the standards of higher education in any Central Educational Institution;
(b) “branch of study” means a branch of study leading to three principal levels of qualifications at bachelors (under graduate), masters (post graduate) and doctoral levels;
(c) “Central Educational Institution”means—
(i) a University established or incorporated by or under a Central Act;
(ii) an institution of national importance established by an Act of Parliament;
(iii) an institution, declared as an institution deemed to be University under section 3 of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956 (3 of 1956),, and maintained by or receiving aid from the Central Government;
(iv) an institution maintained by or receiving aid from the Central Government, whether directly or indirectly, and affiliated to an institution referred to in sub-clause (i) or sub-clause (ii), or a constituent unit of an institution referred to in sub-clause (iii); and
(v) an educational institution established by the Central Government under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 (21 of 1860);
(d) “direct recruitment” means the process of appointing faculty by inviting applications against public advertisement from persons eligible to teach in aCentral Educational Institution;
(e) “economically weaker sections” means such weaker sections as are referred to in Explanation to clause (6) of article 15 of the Constitution;
(f) “faculty” means the faculty of a Central Educational Institution;
(g) “Minority Educational Institution” means an institution established and administered by the minorities under clause (1) of article 30 of the Constitution and so declared by an Act of Parliament or by the Central Government or declared as a Minority Educational Institution under the National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions Act,2004 (2 of 2005);
(h) “sanctioned strength” means the number of posts in teachers’ cadre approved by the appropriate authority;
(i) “Scheduled Castes” means the Scheduled Castes notified under article 341 of the Constitution;br
(j) “Scheduled Tribes” means the Scheduled Tribes notified under article 342 of the Constitution;br
(k) “socially and educationally backward classes” means such backward classes as are so deemed under article 342 A of the Constitution;br
(l) “teachers’ cadre” means a class of all the teachers of a Central Educational Institution, regardless of the branch of study or faculty, who are remunerated at the same grade of pay, excluding any allowance or bonus.