UGC approves 101 Universities for Online & Distance Learning (ODL) in 2025

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has approved 101 universities and 20 Category-I institutions to offer open and distance learning (ODL) programmes for the academic year 2025-26, to be commenced in July-August. In a push towards digital education, the commission has also authorised 113 universities to conduct online courses. Additionally, 13 institutions have received clearance to launch specialised online learning (OL) programmes. The Commission has announced October 15 as the final date for student admissions into recognised ODL and online programmes. Top Government Universities are Delhi University, Nalanda Open University, University Of Mumbai, Punjabi University, University Of Madras Top Private Universities are Dr. C. V. Raman University, Bharathidasan University, B.S. Abdur Rahman Crescent Institute Of Science And Technology, VELS Institute Of Science, Technology & Advanced Studies and Sathyabama Institute Of Science And Technology, Chennai Chennai is the leading city of India with Maximum no of University that are approved by UGC UGC calls for eligible HEIs for ODL programmes: The development follows the UGC’s call for applications from eligible Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) under the UGC (Open and Distance Learning Programmes and Online Programmes) Regulations, 2020, along with its subsequent amendments. Institutions that successfully meet the regulatory and quality benchmarks have been approved to offer ODL and online programmes. Through its 578th Commission decision, it has exempted central, state, and private universities from obtaining prior approval or a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) for offering undergraduate, postgraduate, and postgraduate diploma programmes in Management, Computer Applications, and Travel and Tourism via ODL or online mode. Rules for HEIs by UGC: The Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) recognised by the Commission are required to comply with a defined set of academic and operational standards while offering ODL and online programmes. These standards include entry-level qualifications for learners, mode of admission, prescribed minimum and maximum duration of programmes, and the number of academic credits, as per the UGC Notification on Specification of Degrees (2014) and the ODL Regulations (2020). ODL Approved University Acharya Nagarjuna University, Guntur Sri Padmavati Mahila Vishwavidyalayam, Tirupati Yogi Vemana University Andhra Pradesh National Sanskrit University AP Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati Arunachal Pradesh Rajiv Gandhi University Krishna Kanta Handiqui State Open University Gauhati University Tezpur University Nalanda Open University Panjab University, Chandigarh Pt. Sundarlal Sharma University, Chhattisgarh Dr. C. V. Raman University, Chhattisgarh Mats University, Chhattisgarh University Of Delhi Jamia Millia Islamia, Delhi Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Open University, Ahmedabad Gokul Global University, Gujarat Guru Jambeshwar University Of Science & Technology, Haryana Maharshi Dayanand University, Haryana Central University Of Haryana Himachal Pradesh University Shoolini University Of Biotechnology And Management Sciences, Himachal Pradesh University Of Kashmir University Of Jammu Jharkhand State Open University Arka Jain University, Jharkhand Jain University, Karnataka Karnataka State Open University Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana, Karnataka Calicut University, Kerala Kerala University Sreenarayanaguru Open University, Kerala Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya, Madhya Pradesh Jiwaji University, Madhya Pradesh M. P. Bhoj University Mahatma Gandhi Chitrakoot Gramodaya Vishwavidyalaya, Madhya Pradesh Mahatma Gandhi Antarrashtriya Hindi Vishwavidyalaya, Maharashtra Smt Nathibai Damodar Thackersey Women’s University, Maharashtra Shivaji University, Maharashtra Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University University Of Mumbai Kavikulaguru Kalidas Sanskrit University, Maharashtra International Institute For Population Sciences, Maharashtra MIT Art Design & Technology University, Maharashtra University Of Science & Technology, Meghalaya Sambalpur University, Odisha Utkal University, Odisha Odisha State Open University Sri Sri University, Odisha Fakir Mohan University, Odisha Maharaja Sriram Chandra Bhanja Deo University, Odisha Pondicherry University Chandigarh University, Punjab Jagat Guru Nanak Dev Punjab State University Lovely Professional University, Punjab Punjabi University, Punjab Desh Bhagat University, Punjab Jain Vishva Bharati Institute, Rajasthan Jagannath University, Rajasthan Jaipur National University, Rajasthan Vardhman Mahaveer Open University, Rajasthan Vivekananda Global University, Rajasthan Annamalai University, Tamil Nadu Anna University, Chennai Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli B.S. Abdur Rahman Crescent Institute Of Science And Technology, Chennai Kalasalingam Academy Of Research And Higher Education, Srivilliputhur Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Tirunelveli Tamil Nadu Open University, Chennai University Of Madras Sathyabama Institute Of Science And Technology, Chennai Mother Teresa Women’s University VELS Institute Of Science, Technology & Advanced Studies Academy Of Maritime Education And Training, Tamil Nadu Bharathiar University, Tamil Nadu Periyar University, Tamil Nadu Maulana Azad National Urdu University, Hyderabad ICFAI Foundation For Higher Education, Telangana Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Open University, Telangana Kakatiya University, Telangana Mata Tripura Sundari Open University, Tripura Amity University, Uttar Pradesh Swami Vivekanand Subharti University, Uttar Pradesh U.P. Rajarshi Tandon Open University Mangalayatan University, Uttar Pradesh Integral University, Uttar Pradesh Shobhit Institute Of Engineering & Technology, Uttar Pradesh Teerthanker Mahaveer University, Uttar Pradesh IIMT University, Uttar Pradesh Uttarakhand Open University University Of Patanjali, Uttarakhand Netaji Subhas Open University, West Bengal Rabindra Bharati University, West Bengal University Of Kalyani, West Bengal University Of North Bengal, West Bengal University Of Burdwan, West Bengal