The deemed universities have been allowed to remove 'deemed' from their name and identify themselves as universities, the Government said.

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has approved the use of the word 'university' by such institutions, Minister of State for Higher Education D Purandeswari told the Rajya Sabha in a written reply.

The decision was taken following a recommendation in this regard by a committee comprising heads of UGC and All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE) and a former Secretary of Higher Education.

The Government has granted deemed university status to 128 institutions by June this year, including 62 in the last five years.

Tamil Nadu has the maximum 29 such institutions followed by Maharashtra (21), Karnataka (15), Delhi (11) and Uttar Pradesh (10), she said. About 47 institutions have been granted the status in the last three years.

The increase in the number of deemed universities has attracted criticism from several quarters. The Government-appointed committee on 'Renovation and Rejuvenation of Higher Education', headed by Prof Yashpal, has suggested that grant of such status be put on hold till rationale guidelines are evolved.