In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires;-
(a) 'appropiate authority' means the University Grant Commission established under the University Grants Commission Act, 1956 (Act No.3 of 1956), or any other authority or body established or under a Central Act or State Act for the determination, coordination or maintenance of the standards of higher education in any State 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) or doctoral levels.
(c) 'direct recruitment' means the process of appointing faculty by inviting applications against public advertisement from persons eligible to teach in a State Educational Institutions;
(d) 'economically weaker sections' means economically weaker sections of citizens as defined under the Uttar Pradesh Public Services (Reservation for Economically Weaker Sections) Act, 2020 (Act no. 10 of 2020).
(e) 'faculty' means the faculty of a State Educational Institution;
(f) 'Minority Educational Institution' means an institution established and administered by the minorities under clause (I) of Article 30 of the Constitution of India and so declared as a Minority Educational Institution under the National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions Act, 2004 (Act no. 2 of 2005);
(g)'other backward classes' means other backward classes notified under the Uttar Pradesh Public Services (Reservation for Scheduled Castes, Schedule Tribes and Other Backward Classes) Act, 1994 (U.P. Act no. 4 of 1994);
(h) 'sanctioned strength' means the number of posts in teachers cadre approved by the appropriate authority;
(i) 'Scheduled Castes' means the Scheduled Castes defined under the Uttar Pradesh Public Services (Reservation for Scheduled Castes, Schedule Tribes and Other Backward Classes) Act, 1994 (U.P. Act no. 4 of 1994);
(j) 'Scheduled Tribes' means the Scheduled Tribes defined under the the Uttar Pradesh Public Services (Reservation for Scheduled Castes, Schedule Tribes and Other Backward Classes) Act, 1994 (U.P. Act no. 4 of 1994);
(k) 'State Educational Institution' means '
(i) A State University established or incorporated by or under a State Act;
(ii) An institution receiving aid from the State Government and affiliated, associated to or constituent of a State University established or incorporated by or under a State Act;
(iii) A medical educational institution established under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 (Act no. 21 of 1986) and receiving aid from the State Government;
(iv) A composite group of government educational institutions where common state level cadre has been created by the Government;
(j) 'State Government' means the Government of Uttar Pradesh;
(k) 'teachers cadre' means a class of all the teachers of a State Educational Institution, regardless of the branch of study of faculty, who are renumerated at the same grade of pay, excluding any allowance or bonus;