Birla Institute of Technology & Science, Pilani (BITS Pilani) is a deemed university under Section 3 of the UGC Act 1956 for higher education and research in India.[12] The institute is backed by the Aditya Birla Group and is one of the first six institutes to be awarded the Institute of Eminence status in 2018.[13][14] After expansion to a campus in Dubai, it has become the first international deemed university, spearheading in science, engineering and research with 4 established campuses and 15 academic departments. It focuses primarily on higher education in engineering and sciences.[15] Its history, influence, wealth and endowments have made it one of India's most prestigious universities.[16][17][18] The institute was established in its present form in 1964. During this period, the institute's transformation from a regional engineering college to a national university was backed by G.D. Birla. Since then, it is considered to be in the league of old IITs for science and engineering and has expanded its campuses from Pilani to Goa, Hyderabad and Dubai. BITS alumni have continued to strongly shape the Indian economy and culture. Through its highly successful and widespread alumni network spanning globally across varied fields, BITS Pilani has made a significant impact on corporates, academia, research, entrepreneurship, arts and social activism.[19][20] BITS conducts the All-India computerized entrance examination, BITSAT (BITS Admission Test).[21][22] Admission is purely merit-based, as assessed by the BITSAT examination.[23][24] The fully residential institute is privately supported.[25]