Chapter I PRELIMINARY

1. (1) This Act may be called the Meghalaya Private Colleges (Promotion and Regulation) Act, 2025.
2. (2) It shall extend to the whole of the State of Meghalaya.
3. (3) It shall come into force on such date as the Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint.

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, -

1. (a) "Act" means the Meghalaya Private Colleges (Promotion and Regulation) Act, 2025;
2. (b) "aid" or "grant-in-aid" means any sum of money paid by the Government, by whatever description called;
3. (c) "Aided College" means a private college which is or has been receiving grant-in-aid from the Government;
4. (d) "College" means any Institution, whether known as such or by any other name which provides for a course of study for obtaining any qualification from a University and which, in accordance with the rules and regulations of such university, is recognized as competent to provide for such course of study and present students undergoing such course of study for the examination for the award of such qualification;
5. (e) "Competent authority" means authority, officer or person, authorized by the Government by notification, to be the competent authority and different competent authorities may be appointed for different provisions or for different areas or in relation to different classes of private colleges as may be specified in the notification;
6. (f) "Director" means the Director of Higher & Technical Education (DHTE);
7. (g) "educational agency" means any person or body of persons permitted or deemed to be permitted under this Act to establish and maintain any private college;
8. (h) "fee" means all fees including tuition fee and other charges, by whatever description called;
   • (i) "Government" means the Government of the Meghalaya;
9. (j) "notification" means a notification and the expression "notified" shall be construed accordingly;
10. (k) "prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under this Act;
11. (l) "private college" means a college maintained by an educational agency and approved by, or affiliate to a university;
12. (m) "UGC" means the University Grants Commission established under section 4 of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956 (3 of 1956).
13. (n) "university" means any University established or incorporated by or under a Central Act, or by an Act of State Legislature of the State of Meghalaya.