25 universities along with have been allowed to start Open and Distance Learning (ODL) courses from the academic year 2020. The universities granted category I autonomy by the University Grants Commission (UGC) under its graded autonomy scheme last year have been allowed to start the programmes. There are 14 deemed to be universities, 10 state universities and one central university on the list. Among them Bhararti Vidyapeeth and Narsee Monjee are also included in this list.
However, the institutions cannot start or run any professional courses governed by specific Acts of Parliament, except with the prior and specific approval of the regulatory authorities. The UGC circular also states that no institution shall conduct research programmes – M.Phil and Ph.D –through distance education mode.
There are certain programmes that are not allowed for Open Distance Learning Programmes, they are mentioned below:
1. Engineering
2. Medicine
3. Dental
4. Pharmacy
5. Nursing
6. Architecture
7. Physiotherapy
8. Agriculture
9. Hotel management
And some Other programme that are not permitted to be offered in distance mode by the respective statutory councils.
Five Maharashtra institutions, including Savitribai Phule Pune University, Bharti Vidyapeeth, Narsee Monjee Mumbai, have been permitted.
Four universities from Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu are also on the list. These include Andhra University, Gandhi Institute of Technology and Management (GITAM), SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Alagappa University.
There are three from Telangana – Nalsar University of Law, Osmania University and Central university of Hyderabad. There is one Institution each from Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Haryana Jammu and Kashmir and two from Karnataka.
Utkal University in Odisha will now have the liberty to introduce new Open Distance Learning Courses, as the UGC ( University Grants Commission) has notified that the Utkal University need not need any more permission for running Open Distance Learning Programmes.
