By Thomas Scaria
Mangaluru, June 23, 2026: St Aloysius (Deemed to be University), a Jesuit-managed institution in the southern Indian city of Mangaluru, has secured Category-I status from the University Grants Commission (UGC), marking a significant milestone in its 146-year history.
The recognition, granted June 20, places the university among a select group of India’s top-performing higher education institutions, according to Vice Chancellor Father Praveen Martis.
Category-I status is the highest level of autonomy granted by India’s University Grants Commission to top-performing universities based on strong academic quality, accreditation and rankings.
“This recognition marks a defining moment in the university’s illustrious 146-year journey of academic excellence, innovation, research, and nation-building, placing the institution among an elite group of India’s highest-performing higher educational universities,” Father Martis said.
He added that “the recognition assumes greater significance considering the highly competitive landscape of Indian higher education.”
St Aloysius is the second deemed-to-be university in Karnataka state to receive Category-I status under the UGC’s graded autonomy framework — a system introduced in 2018 that classifies universities into different categories and gives them varying levels of independence based on their performance and quality
India has 1,292 universities, including 157 deemed universities. Of those, only 26 have received Category-I status, and just about 45 institutions across the country hold the distinction, highlighting the exclusivity of the recognition.
Karnataka, which has 17 deemed universities, is considered a major educational hub. Within this landscape, St Aloysius has emerged as one of the top two private institutions in the state to achieve Category-I status.
Founded in 1880 by the Jesuits, the university has developed a reputation for academic excellence, supported by a strong faculty, active research programs and a global alumni network.
The Category-I designation grants greater autonomy to the institution, including the ability to establish off-campus centers within its jurisdiction without prior approval. It also allows the university to set up research parks, incubation centers and innovation hubs to strengthen industry-academia collaboration.
In addition, the status enhances the institution’s ability to attract international students and permits it to pursue academic collaborations, joint research projects and dual-degree programs with leading global universities, provided they meet prescribed criteria.
University officials described the recognition as a step that will expand academic opportunities and strengthen its role in higher education.
(Photo supplied: Father Praveen Martis, conducting the press conference)