Page 404 - Compendium of UGC Regulations 1957-2023

Regulations pertaining to Credits, Academic Programmes and Award of Degrees:

University Grants Commission
Minimum Standards of Instruction for the Grant of the First Degree
through Non-Formal/Distance Education in the faculty of Arts, Humanities,

Fine arts, Music, Social Sciences and Commerce) Regulations, 1985.

25th November 1985
No.F1117/83(CP) ?In exercise of the powers conferred by Clause (f) of subsection(1) of Section
26 of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956 (No. 3 of 1956), the University Grants
Commission makes the following regulations, namely:-

1. Short title, application and commencement:-
1. These regulations may be called the University Grants Commission (the minimum
standards of instructions for the grant of the first degree through nonformal/distance
education in the faculties of Arts, Humanities, Fine Arts, Music, Social Sciences,
Commerce and Sciences) Regulations, 1985.

2. They shall apply to every university established or incorporated by or under a Central
Act, Provincial Act or of a Section 2 of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956
and every institution deemed to be University under Section 3 of the said Act.
3. They shall come into force on June 1, 1986.

2. Admission/Students:
1. No student shall be eligible for admission to the 1st Degree Course through nonformal/
distance education unless he has successfully completed 12 years schooling through an
examination conducted by a Board/University. In case there is no previous academic
record, he shall be eligible for admission if he has passed an entrance test conducted by
the University provided that he is not below the age of 21 years on July 1 of the year of
admission.
2. No student shall be eligible for the award of the first degree unless he has successfully
completed a three year course; this degree may be called the B.A./B.Sc./B.Com.
(General Honours/Special) degree as the case may be.
Provided that no student shall be eligible to seek admission to the Master?s Course in these
faculties, who has not successfully pursued the first Degree Course of three years duration.
Provided further that, as a transistory measure where the universities are unable to
change over to a three year degree course, they may award a B.A./B.Sc./B.Com. (Pass)
degree on successful completion of two year course, but that no student of this stream
shall be eligible for admission to the Master?s course unless he has undergone a further
one year bridge course and passed the same. The three year degree course after 10+2
stage should in no case be termed as B.A./B.Sc./B.Com. (Pass) degree.
3. Programme of study:

1. Each lesson shall constitute approximately one week?s reading and there shall be at
least 25 lessons in each main subject of study. The lessons shall be despatched to the
student at regular intervals.
2. The University shall set up study centres (outside the headquarters) in areas where
there is a reasonable concentration of students. Each study centre shall have adequate
library facilities (text books, reference materials and lessons and supporting materials).
They shall also have qualified parttime instruction/counselling staff to advise and assist
the students in the studies and remove individual difficulties.
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University Grants Commission