UGC Approved 101 Universities for Online and ODL Programmes: In a significant move to expand access to higher education across India, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has approved 101 universities and 20 Category-I institutions to offer Open and Distance Learning (ODL) programmes for the 2025–26 academic session. Additionally, 113 universities have been authorised to conduct online courses, while 13 institutions have received clearance to launch specialised Online Learning (OL) programmes.
This decision follows the UGC’s invitation to eligible Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) under the UGC (Open and Distance Learning Programmes and Online Programmes) Regulations, 2020, and its subsequent amendments. Institutions that met the required quality benchmarks and regulatory standards have been granted permission to offer these flexible learning options.
Key Highlights of the Approval
- Academic Year Start: The approved programmes will commence in July–August 2025.
- Admission Deadline: The final date for student admissions into recognised ODL and online programmes is October 15, 2025.
- Exemption from AICTE Approval: Central, State, and Private Universities are exempted from obtaining prior approval or No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) for offering undergraduate, postgraduate, and diploma programmes in Management, Computer Applications, and Travel & Tourism via ODL or online mode. However, Deemed-to-be Universities must still seek AICTE approval.
Compliance and Regulatory Norms
All approved institutions are required to strictly adhere to UGC’s academic and operational standards. These include:
- Entry-level qualifications, mode of admission, and programme duration.
- Credit requirements as per the UGC Notification on Specification of Degrees (2014) and ODL Regulations (2020).
- Territorial jurisdiction norms and establishment of Learner Support Centres (LSCs) as outlined in Annexures III and VIII of the 2020 regulations.
- Data Submission: Institutions must submit admission data via the DEB Web Portal using reverse API integration to ensure transparency and accountability.
List of Approved Universities
The approved list includes prominent institutions across various states. The names of some of those approved universities include:
University Names |
Acharya Nagarjuna University, Guntur |
Sri Padmavati Mahila Vishwavidyalayam, Tirupati |
Fakir Mohan University, Odisha |
Kakatiya University, Telangana |
Panjab University, Chandigarh |
Sreenarayanaguru Open University, Kerala |
Pondicherry University |
Mother Teresa Women’s University |
Utkal University, Odisha |
University Of North Bengal, West Bengal |
Vardhman Mahaveer Open University, Rajasthan |
Krishna Kanta Handiqui State Open University |
Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati |
Chandigarh University, Punjab |
VELS Institute Of Science, Technology & Advanced Studies |
International Institute For Population Sciences, Maharashtra |
Academy Of Maritime Education And Training, Tamil Nadu |
Tezpur University |
University Of Burdwan, West Bengal |
Tamil Nadu Open University, Chennai |
Calicut University, Kerala |
Shoolini University Of Biotechnology And Management Sciences, Himachal Pradesh |
Gauhati University |
Arunachal Pradesh Rajiv Gandhi University |
Shobhit Institute Of Engineering & Technology, Uttar Pradesh |
Himachal Pradesh University |
Desh Bhagat University, Punjab |
Mahatma Gandhi Chitrakoot Gramodaya Vishwavidyalaya, Madhya Pradesh |
Maharshi Dayanand University, Haryana |
Nalanda Open University |
Jagat Guru Nanak Dev Punjab State University |
Andhra Pradesh National Sanskrit University |
Karnataka State Open University |
Dr. C. V. Raman University, Chhattisgarh |
Bharathiar University, Tamil Nadu |
Kerala University |
University Of Patanjali, Uttarakhand |
Kavikulaguru Kalidas Sanskrit University, Maharashtra |
Shivaji University, Maharashtra |
Guru Jambeshwar University Of Science & Technology, Haryana |
Anna University, Chennai |
Pt. Sundarlal Sharma University, Chhattisgarh |
Mahatma Gandhi Antarrashtriya Hindi Vishwavidyalaya, Maharashtra |
Odisha State Open University |
Maharaja Sriram Chandra Bhanja Deo University, Odisha |
University Of Kashmir |
Teerthanker Mahaveer University, Uttar Pradesh |
Smt Nathibai Damodar Thackersey Women’s University, Maharashtra |
Jamia Millia Islamia, Delhi |
Kalasalingam Academy Of Research And Higher Education, Srivilliputhur |
Sri Sri University, Odisha |
Gokul Global University, Gujarat |
University Of Mumbai |
Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University |
Mata Tripura Sundari Open University, Tripura |
University Of Science & Technology, Meghalaya |
University Of Kalyani, West Bengal |
Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya, Madhya Pradesh |
Vivekananda Global University, Rajasthan |
Periyar University, Tamil Nadu |
Arka Jain University, Jharkhand |
Punjabi University, Punjab |
Jiwaji University, Madhya Pradesh |
Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli |
Jharkhand State Open University |
Swami Vivekanand Subharti University, Uttar Pradesh |
Maulana Azad National Urdu University, Hyderabad |
University Of Madras |
Lovely Professional University, Punjab |
Integral University, Uttar Pradesh |
Jagannath University, Rajasthan |
AP Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University |
Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Tirunelveli |
MIT Art Design & Technology University, Maharashtra |
Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Open University, Ahmedabad |
Mats University, Chhattisgarh |
Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana, Karnataka |
U.P. Rajarshi Tandon Open University |
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Open University, Telangana |
Uttarakhand Open University |
University Of Jammu |
Sathyabama Institute Of Science And Technology, Chennai |
B.S. Abdur Rahman Crescent Institute Of Science And Technology, Chennai |
Jain Vishva Bharati Institute, Rajasthan |
M. P. Bhoj University |
Yogi Vemana University |
Mangalayatan University, Uttar Pradesh |
IIMT University, Uttar Pradesh |
Netaji Subhas Open University, West Bengal |
Central University Of Haryana |
Annamalai University, Tamil Nadu |
Jain University, Karnataka |
Amity University, Uttar Pradesh |
ICFAI Foundation For Higher Education, Telangana |
University Of Delhi |
Sambalpur University, Odisha |
Jaipur National University, Rajasthan |
Rabindra Bharati University, West Bengal |
Implications for Students
This move is expected to benefit millions of students, especially those from remote and underserved regions, by providing flexible, affordable, and quality education. The expansion of ODL and online programmes aligns with India’s vision for digital transformation in education and supports lifelong learning.
Students are advised to refer to the official UGC Distance Education Bureau (DEB) portal for the complete list of approved institutions and ensure they meet the eligibility criteria before applying.