St Aloysius (Deemed to be University), a Jesuit-managed institution in Mangaluru, has been granted Category-I status by the University Grants Commission (UGC), marking a major achievement in its 146-year history.
The recognition was awarded on June 20 and places the university among India’s top-performing higher education institutions. Vice Chancellor Fr. Praveen Martis said the honour reflects the university’s long tradition of academic excellence, research, innovation, and service to society.
Category-I is the highest level of autonomy granted by the UGC to universities with strong academic performance, high accreditation standards, and excellent institutional rankings. The recognition also comes at a time when competition among higher education institutions in India is increasing.
St Aloysius is only the second deemed-to-be university in Karnataka to receive this status under the UGC’s graded autonomy framework, introduced in 2018. Across India, there are 1,292 universities, including 157 deemed universities. Only 26 deemed universities have earned Category-I status, making this recognition highly prestigious.
Founded by the Jesuits in 1880, St Aloysius has built a strong reputation through quality teaching, active research, dedicated faculty, and a wide network of alumni across the world.
The new status gives the university greater academic and administrative freedom. It can establish off-campus centres within its jurisdiction, set up research parks, innovation hubs, and incubation centres without prior approval. The recognition also strengthens opportunities for international collaborations, joint research projects, dual-degree programmes, and attracting students from abroad.
University leaders believe this milestone will open new opportunities for academic growth and further strengthen St Aloysius University’s contribution to higher education in India.
