Open and Distance Learning in India was introduced by Delhi University in 1962 through the School of Correspondence Courses and Continuing Education to enable those, who had the inclination and aptitude to acquire further knowledge and improve their professional competence. Subsequently in 1968, Correspondence Courses were started by Punjabi University and University of Rajasthan. Meerut and Mysore University started these courses in 1969. In the eighties, the distance education system expanded further. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Open University, Hyderabad was established in 1982 by the State of Andhra Pradesh. The setting up of Indira Gandhi National Open University by the Government of India in 1985 by an Act of the Parliament is considered to be a landmark development in the field of distance education in the Country.
The Distance Education Council (DEC) was established in 1991 under Section 16(7) read with Section 5(2) of the IGNOU Act, 1985. As per clause (2) (a) of the statute 28, the DEC was responsible for the promotion and coordination of the Open and Distance Learning system in the Country. In May, 2007 a Joint Committee was formed by signing a MoU between UGC, AICTE and DEC for the period of three years till May, 2010. The Joint Committee developed guidelines in the form of ‘Recognition of Open and Distance Learning (ODL) Institutions’ Handbook 2009. Thereafter, in pursuance of the directions issued by the Ministry of Education, the Department of Higher Education, Government of India issued order dated 29.12.2012, thereby the regulatory functions with regard to Distance Education programmes (excluding technical education) in higher education were vested with the University Grants Commission and for technical education, the AICTE act as a regulator through ODL mode. The Distance Education Council, which was the erstwhile regulator of Distance Education programmes, was dissolved and all regulatory functions were undertaken by the UGC under DEB (Distance Education Bureau) with effect from 2013. The Ministry of Education vide its order dated 25th February, 2014, has directed UGC to act as a regulator for higher education system in ODL mode, including for technical education in universities/affiliated colleges.
The University Grants Commission had accorded recognition to Universities/ Institutions for offering programmes through distance mode from academic session 2013 onwards. After the transfer of regulatory work from the erstwhile DEC to UGC, the continuation of recognition was given to Institutes/Universities for one year i.e. 2014-15, which were already having recognition under institutional recognition/programme wise recognition.
Subsequently, in the absence of ODL Regulations, Commission decided to continue the recognition during 2015-16 in respect of those institutions which were recognized during 2014-15 to offer ODL programmes.
For the purpose of considering the recognition of eligible universities/institutions, the UGC for the first time, carried out an extensive exercise. The recognition was accorded to the eligible universities/institutions based on the recommendations of the Expert Committees. In the case of universities, the recognition was accorded for two academic years i.e. for 2016-17 and 2017-18. However, vide UGC (ODL) First and Second Amendments after academic session 2017-18, the Commission shall not accord any approval to the Open and Distance Learning programmes of Standalone Institutions.
I. Type of HEIs
“Higher Educational Institution” means a university covered under clause (f) of section 2 and an institution deemed to be a university covered under section 3 of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956, which is imparting by means of conducting regular classes or through Open and Distance Learning systems, higher education or research therein.
| Type of HEIs |
| Central University |
State University |
Central Open University |
State Open University |
Private University |
Deemed to be University |
II. Types of Programmes
“Programme” means a course or programme of study leading to the award of a Degree at graduate and postgraduate levels in a higher educational institution including Certificate or Diploma or Post Graduate Diploma.
| Types of Programmes |
| Graduate Degree |
Post Graduate Degree |
Certificate |
Diploma |
Post Graduate Diploma |
III. Programmes Prohibited in ODL mode
Programmes in Engineering, Medicine, Dental, Pharmacy, Nursing, Architecture, Physiotherapy, Agriculture, Hotel management, Culinary managements and programmes not permitted to be offered in distance mode by any Statutory Councils or Regulatory Authorities to be conducted by the Higher Educational Institutions under Open and Distance Learning mode.
MANDATORY DISCLOSURE ON HEIs WEBSITE
- Letters of recognitions from Commission and other relevant statutory or regulatory authorities
- Programme Details :- Name, Duration, Eligibility, Fee, Structure etc.
- Programme-wise information :- syllabus, contact points for counselling, programme structure with credit points, faculty details
- Date sheet for admissions, Registration, Counselling, assignments
- Data of year-wise or programme-wise student enrolment details
- Information about Self Learning Material (SLM) :- Faculty, Date of preparation, Sources, References etc
- List of Learner Support Centres (LSCs) and Examination Centres along with the number of students appeared at examination centres
- Period of admission process along with academic session and dates of the term end examinations
- Report on Quality Assurance
Distance Education has become one powerful medium of obtaining degrees for large number of students who are staying in far off and remote areas and for whom accessing universities on a regular basis is still a dream. Distance enrolment constitutes 11% of the total enrolment in Higher Education, as per AISHE Report: 2017-18.
Student Enrolment in Universities under Distance mode (As per UGC Annual Report 2017-18)
| Year |
2014-15 |
2015-16 |
2016-17 |
2017-18 |
| No. of students enrolled in Distance Education |
38,11,723 |
38,24,901 |
40,89,781 |
40,31,594 |
| Year |
2014-15 |
2015-16 |
2016-17 |
2017-18 |
2018-19 |
| Number of Universities/Institutions recognised to offer programmes through distance mode |
157 |
130 |
114 |
118 |
104 |
