1. “Act” means the University Grants Commission Act, 1956 (3 of 1956);

2. “aggrieved student” means a student, who has any complaint in the matters relating to or connected with the grievances defined under these regulations.

3. “college” means any institution, so defined in clause (b) of sub-section (1) of section 12A of the Act.

4. “Commission” means the University Grants Commission established under section 4 of the UGC Act, 1956.

5. “declared admission policy” means such policy, including the process there under, for admission to a course or program of study as may be offered by the institution by publication in the prospectus of the institution.

6. “grievance” means, and includes, complaint(s) made by an aggrieved student in respect of the following, namely:

   1. admission contrary to merit determined in accordance with the declared admission policy of the institution;

   2. irregularity in the process under the declared admission policy of the institution;

   3. refusal to admit in accordance with the declared admission policy of the institution;

   4. non-publication of a prospectus by the institution, in accordance with the provisions of these regulations;

   5. publication by the institution of any information in the prospectus, which is false or misleading, and not based on facts;

   6. withholding of, or refusal to return, any document in the form of certificates of degree, diploma or any other award or other document deposited by a student for the purpose of seeking admission in such institution, with a view to induce or compel such student to pay any fee or fees in respect of any course or program of study which such student does not intend to pursue;

   7. demand of money in excess of that specified to be charged in the declared admission policy of the institution;

   8. violation, by the institution, of any law for the time being in force in regard to reservation of seats in admission to different category of students;

   9. non-payment or delay in payment of scholarships or financial aid admissible to any student under the declared admission policy of such institution, or under the conditions, if any, prescribed by the Commission;

   10. delay by the institution in the conduct of examinations, or declaration of results, beyond the schedule specified in the academic calendar of the institution, or in such calendar prescribed by the Commission;

   11. failure by the institution to provide student amenities as set out in the prospectus, or is required to be extended by the institution under any provisions of law for the time being in force;

   12. non-transparent or unfair practices adopted by the institution for the evaluation of students;

   13. delay in, or denial of, the refund of fees due to a student who withdraws admission within the time mentioned in the prospectus, subject to guidelines, if any, issued by the Commission, from time to time;

   14. complaints of alleged discrimination of students from the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes, Women, Minorities or persons with disabilities categories;

   15. denial of quality education as promised at the time of admission or required to be provided;

   16. harassment or victimization of a student, other than cases of harassment, which are to be proceeded against under the penal provisions of any law for the time being in force;

   17. any action initiated/taken contrary to the statutes, ordinances, rules, regulations, or guidelines of the institution; and

   18. any action initiated/taken contrary to the regulations and/or guidelines made/issued by the Commission and/or the regulatory body concerned.

7. “Institution” means a university as defined in sub-section (f) of Section 2 of the UGC Act, an institution declared as institution deemed to be university under Section 3 of the Act, and a college as defined under section 12A (1) (b) of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956.

8. “Ombudsperson” means the Ombudsperson appointed under these regulations;

9. “Prospectus” means and includes any publication, whether in print or otherwise, issued for providing fair and transparent information, relating to an institution, to the general public (including to those seeking admission in such institution) by such institution or any authority or person authorized by such institution to do so;

10. “Student” means a person enrolled, or seeking admission to be enrolled, in any institution, to which these regulations apply, through any mode i.e., Formal / Open and Distance Learning (ODL) / Online;

11. “Students’ Grievance Redressal Committee (SGRC)” means a committee constituted under these regulations, at the level of an institution; and

12. “University” means a University so defined in clause (f) of section 2 of the Act or, where the context may be, an institution deemed to be University declared as such under Section 3 thereof.

Words and expressions used and not defined in these regulations but defined in the University Grants Commission Act, 1956 shall have the same meanings as respectively assigned to them in the Act.