In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,--
(a) "affiliation" together with its grammatical variations, includes, in relation to a college, recognition of such college by, association of such college with, and admission of such college to the privileges of, a 1*** University;
2[(aa) appropriate Government means,--
(i) in relation to an educational institution recognised for conducting its programmes of studies under any Act of Parliament, the Central Government; and
(ii) in relation to any other educational institution recognised for conducting its programmes of studies under any State Act, a State Government in whose jurisdiction such institution is established;]
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(c) "Commission" means the National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions constituted under section 3;
2[(ca) "Competent authority" means the authority appointed by the appropriate Government to grant no objection certificate for the establishment of any educational institution of their choice by the minorities;]
(d) "degree" means any such degree as may, with previous approval of the Central Government, be specified in this behalf by the University Grants Commission, by notification in the Official Gazette;
2[(da) "educational rights to minorities" means the rights of minorities to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice;]
(e) "Member" means a member of the Commission and includes the Chairperson;
(f) "minority", for the purpose of this Act, means a community notified as such by the Central Government;
4[(g) "Minority Educational Institution" means a college or an educational institution established and administered by a minority or minorities;]
(h) "prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under this Act;
(i) "qualification" means a degree or any other qualification awarded by a University;
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(k) "technical education" has the meaning assigned to it in clause (g) of section 2 of the All India Council for Technical Education Act, 1987 (52 of 1987);
(l) "University" means a university defined under clause (f) of section 2 of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956 (3 of 1956), and includes an institution deemed to be a University under section 3 of that Act, or an institution specifically empowered by an Act of Parliament to confer or grant degrees.
1The word "Scheduled" omitted by Act 18 of 2006, s.2 (w.e.f. 23-1-2006).
2Ins. by s. 2, ibid. (w.e.f. 23-1-2006).
3Cl. (b) omitted by Act 20 of 2010, s. 2 (w.e.f.1-9-2010).
4Subs. by s. 2, ibid., for cl. (g) (w.e.f. 1-9-2010).
5Cl. (j) omitted by Act 18 of 2006, s. 2 (w.e.f. 23-1-2006).