UGC's Approval Must For Offering Open, Distance Learning Courses

University Grants Commission made it compulsory for the universities to take approval before offering courses in Distance mode.

The commission stated, “Universities may offer courses in the Open and Distance Learning mode, with approval of the Commission, provided it satisfies all the conditions laid down under the regulations, by whatever name they are called, pertaining to open and distance learning mode notified by the UGC from time to time.” 

The commission added that amendments to the exiting regulations were approved on 28 October at the 562th meeting and these were published in the Gazette of India on 18 November.

According to earlier rules, universities were permitted to offer Distance Learning and Open programmes without prior approval of the commission, provided they satisfy 'all the conditions laid down under the regulations, by whatever name they are called, pertaining to open and distance learning mode notified by the UGC from time to time'.