What exactly do international students have to send to American?
Transcripts are what we call as Semester grade sheets. They will either ask the individual transcripts for each semester or the consolidated one. Some universities in India (like the one I graduated from) gives semester grade sheets after each sem, so you will have it when you have to send it to apply abroad. But many govt universities do not give it and only release results online and hence, you need to get it from your university as and when you need it.