There are three kinds of Seminaries in India:
Majority of the seminary degrees awarded in India are not recognised by the University Grants Commission. The Roman Catholic seminaries are often affiliated with Pontifical Universities in Rome or Roman Curia. The degrees and doctorates awarded by Senate of Serampore and Asia Theological Association (ATA) are not legally recognized under Section 22 of the UGC Act. The Senate of Serampore derives its power to grant degree from the Royal Charter granted by King Frederick VI of Denmark. Senate of Serampore is also the first institution to grant degrees in India. [1]
The degree titles such as
are not listed under UGC Act for the purpose of the Section 22 of the Act and hence can be awarded by seminaries without the approval of UGC. [2] [3] [4]
The degree titles such as
are listed under the purposes of Section 22 of UGC Act [5] and hence only those institutions with university status as approved by parliament within the meaning of Section 2(f) of the UGC Act can confer such titles. [6] According to Section 22(2) of the UGC Act it is illegal in India for institutions other than those with university status as approved by parliament within the meaning of Section 2(f) of the UGC Act to confer research, professional or honorary doctorates, academic titles or degree certificate that are listed for the purposes of Section 22 of the UGC Act. [7] [8] Therefore, most seminaries do not award these titles unless affiliated with a university.
Seminary students having degrees that are not listed under UGC Act are not eligible to sit for public service examinations, or avail public employment or government research grant, etc. based on their degrees. Since there are no government or UGC approved theological institutions in India that provide degrees in biblical languages and Christian theology, the degrees awarded by these seminaries are accepted and recognised by universities and seminaries outside of India peninsular, especially in Europe and North America for further studies and research.
The following is a list of major Christian seminaries and theological colleges in India:
Some of the prominent Christian seminaries and theological institutions are shown below along with their year of establishment and academic affiliations and accreditation:
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link){{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link){{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)