In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,-
(a) "branch of study" means a branch of study leading to four principal levels of qualifications at diploma, bachelors (under graduate), masters (post graduate) and doctoral (Ph.D.) levels;
(b) "De-notified Tribes (Vimukta Jatis)" means the Tribes declared as such by the Government from time to time;
(c) "direct recruitment" means the process of appointing faculty by inviting applications against public advertisement from persons eligible to teach in an Educational Institution;
(d) "Economically Weaker Sections" means such weaker sections as are referred to in Explanation to clause (6) of article 15 of the Constitution of India;
(e) "Educational Institution" means,-
(i) a university established or incorporated by or under a State Act and receiving aid from the State Government;
(ii) 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 State Government;
(iii) an institution or college or group of institutions or colleges maintained by or receiving aid from the State Government and affiliated to an institution referred to in sub-clause (i) or a constituent unit of an institution referred to in sub-clause (i) or sub-clause (ii); or
(iv) an institution or college or a group of institutions or colleges maintained by a society or trust or private management body and receiving aid from the State Government, whether directly or indirectly and affiliated to an institution referred to in sub-clause (i); or
(v) an educational institution established by the State Government under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 (21 of 1860);
(f) "faculty" means the faculty of an Educational Institution;
(g) "Government" or "State Government" means the Government of Maharashtra;
(h) "minority educational institution" means the Government approved institution established and administered by the minority having right to do so under clause (1) of article 30 of the Constitution of India;
(i) "Nomadic Tribes" means the Tribes wandering from place to place in search of their livelihood as declared by the Government, from time to time ;
(j) "Other Backward Classes" means any socially and educationally backward classes of citizens as declared by the Government and includes Other Backward Classes declared by the Government of India in relation to the State of Maharashtra ;
(k) "sanctioned strength" means the number of posts in teachers' cadre approved by the State Government;
(l) "Scheduled Castes" means the Scheduled Castes notified under article 341 of the Constitution of India;
(m) "Scheduled Tribes" means the Scheduled Tribes notified under article 342 of the Constitution of India;
(n) "Special Backward Category" means socially and educationally backward classes of citizens declared as Special Backward Category by the Government;
(o) "teachers' cadre" means a class of all the teachers of an Educational Institution, regardless of the branch of study or faculty, who are remunerated at the same grade of pay, excluding any allowance or bonus.