The University Grants Commission (UGC), draws its power from the University Grants Commission Act, 1956. In addition, 15 Professional Councils are established, controlling different aspects of accreditation and coordination. State universities are public universities run by the state government of each of the states and territories of India, and are usually established by a local legislative assembly act. The UGC publishes and regularly updates the lists of state universities. As of 16 February 2016, the UGC lists 343 state universities. The oldest establishment date listed by the UGC is 1857, shared by the University of Calcutta, the University of Madras and the University of Mumbai.

Section 12 (B) of the UGC Act of 1956 also grants the UGC the right to “allocate and disburse, out of the Fund of the Commission, grants to Universities…” As such, the UGC categorizes state universities as either “declared fit to receive Central/UGC assistance under Section 12 (B) of the UGC Act–1956”, or not, and notes this status at the lists published. Updates to these declarations are done in meetings of the UGC and published in the minutes. The UGC maintained list of state universities lists 204 universities fit to receive Central/UGC assistance and 139 unfit to do so(as on 16 February,2016) Ref.www.ugc.ac.in. The 482nd meeting of the UGC on 22 December 2011 approved four more.