Page 445 - Compendium of UGC Regulations 1957-2023

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

University Grants Commission
(Open and Distance Learning) Regulations, 2017.

NOTIFICATION

New Delhi, the 23rd June, 2017

F. No. 2-4/2015 (DEB-III).—In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section
26 read with clause (j) of section 12 of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956 (3 of 1956)
and in supersession of the University Grants Commission Regulations, (the minimum standards
of instructions for the grants of first degree through nonformal/distance education in the faculties
of Arts, Humanities, Fine Arts, Music, Social Science, Commerce and Sciences) Regulations,
1985 except as respect of things done or omitted to be done before such supersession, the
University Grants Commission makes the following regulations, namely :—

PART - I
PRELIMINARY
1. Short title, application and commencement.—

(1) These regulations may be called the University Grants Commission (Open and Distance
Learning) Regulations, 2017.
(2) These Regulations lay down the minimum standards of instruction for the grant of degree
at the undergraduate and post-graduate levels, through Open and Distance Learning
mode, and shall be in addition to and not in derogation of any other Regulations,
Notifications, Guidelines or Instructions issued by the Commission from time to time.

(3) These regulations shall apply to a University referred to under clause (f) of section
2 of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956, an Institution Deemed to be
University under section 3 of the said Act, for all degree programmes of learning at
the undergraduate and post-graduate level, other than programmes in engineering,
medicine, dental, pharmacy, nursing, architecture, physiotherapy and programmes not
permitted to be offered in distance mode by any other regulatory body.
(4) These regulations shall come into force from the date of their publication in the Official
Gazette.
2. Definitions.—In these regulations, unless the context otherwise requires—

(a) “Academic session” means duration of twelve months beginning either in January or in
the month of July of every year;

(b) “Act”, means the University Grants Commission Act, 1956 (3 of 1956);
(c) “Centre for Internal Quality Assurance” (CIQA) means a Centre as specified in
Annexure I established by a Higher Educational Institution offering programmes in
Open and Distance Learning mode for ensuring the quality of programmes offered by
it through internal quality monitoring mechanism in accordance with the guidelines as
specified in Annexure II;

(d) “Commission” means the University Grants Commission established under the
University Grants Commission Act, 1956 (3 of 1956);
(e) “Credit” means the Unit award gained by a learner by study efforts of a minimum of
thirty hours required to acquire the prescribed level of learning in respect of that Unit;
(f) “Degree” means a degree specified under sub-section (3) of section 22 of the Act;

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UGC Regulations