The University Grants Commission (UGC) has released the list of higher educational institutions (HEIs) providing open and distance learning (ODL) and online programs for the academic session 2025-26 starting in July-August. According to the official notice, 101 universities and 20 category-1 institutions will offer ODL programs, 113 universities will offer online courses, while 13 will provide programs in Online Learning (OL).

The HEIs shall ensure the compliance of entry-level qualification, mode of admission, duration of program (minimum & maximum), and number of credits as per UGC notification on specification of degrees 2014 and its amendments, UGC (Open and Distance Learning Programmes and Online Programmes) Regulations, 2020, and other instructions/notices issued by UGC and other statutory/regulatory bodies from time to time.

HEIs have to onboard students for ODL/online programs and submit admission data on the DEB Web portal by October 15, 2025.

Furthermore, the Central, State, or Private Universities don’t require prior approval/recommendation/NOC from AICTE for offering undergraduate, postgraduate, and postgraduate diploma programs falling under the disciplines of management, computer applications, and travel and tourism.

However, deemed-to-be universities must seek prior approval/recommendation/NOC from AICTE for offering such programs in ODL and/or online mode.

”The Higher Educational Institution shall scrupulously abide by all the terms and conditions as stipulated in the University Grants Commission (Open and Distance Learning Programmes and Online Programmes) Regulations, 2020, and its amendments and other instructions/notices issued by UGC and other statutory/regulatory bodies from time to time,” the official notice added.

UGC Releases Defaulter List; 54 Universities on Radar

Meanwhile, the University Grants Commission (UGC) recently issued a notice to 54 state private universities that have not submitted information under Section 13 of the UGC Act, 1956, or failed to upload public self-disclosure details on their official websites.

These include Krishnaguru Adhyatmik Vishwavidyalaya, Amity University, Rupaspur, Dr C.V. Raman University, Block-Bhagwanpur, Maharishi University of Management and Technology, Post: Mangla, Gandhinagar University, Village: Moti Bhoyan, and others.