Page 499 - Compendium of UGC Regulations 1957-2023

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

University Grants Commission
(Open and Distance Learning) Third Amendment Regulations, 2018.

NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 6th September, 2018
F. No. 2-4/2018 (DEB-I).—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),
the University Grants Commission hereby makes the following regulations further to amend the
University Grants Commission (Open and Distance Learning) Regulations, 2017 namely:—
1. (1) These regulations may be called the University Grants Commission (Open and Distance
Learning) Third Amendment Regulations, 2018.
(2) These shall come into the force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette.
2. In the University Grants Commission (Open and Distance Learning) Regulations, 2017
(hereinafter referred to as the said regulations), - in regulation 3, in sub-regulation (1),
for clause (viii), the following clause shall be substituted, namely:-

“(viii) The Higher Educational Institution has completed five years of existence:
Provided that the Higher Educational Institutions shall submit an undertaking to the effect
that it will attain a National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) score of 3.26 on
a 4-point scale before the end of academic session July 2019-June 2020, failing which, the
Commission shall not accord any approval to the Open and Distance Learning Programmes
of the Higher Educational Institutions:
Provided further, that this clause shall not be applicable to Open Universities till the time they
become eligible for NAAC accreditation and it shall be mandatory for Open Universities to
get NAAC accreditation within one year of their becoming eligible for the same:

Provided further, that an institution Deemed to be a University so declared by the Central
Government shall offer the Open and Distance Learning courses or programmes as per the
extant Deemed to be a University Regulations and other relevant Regulations notified by the
University Grants Commission from time to time and after due inspection of the off-campus
centres or study centres or both as applicable, are found adequate”.
3. In the said regulations, in Annexure X, for paragraph 6, the following paragraph shall
be substituted, namely:-
“6. Deployment of manpower and other support at Study or Learner Support Centres
The Study Centres or Learner Support Centres shall be headed by a Coordinator, not below the
rank of an Assistant Professor and shall be augmented with academic and non-academic staff
depending on the number of learner, assigned for adequate support to the learners. There shall
not be any restrictions in the capacity of intake in Open and Distance Learning programme
at the Learning Support Centre or Study Centre and Main campus. The capacity of intake
per programme should be commensurate with the available qualified faculty in relevant area,
well equipped laboratory, library, online connectivity and Information and Communication
Technology facilities, and appropriate infrastructure, along with the following:
(i) Number of qualified counselor to number of students shall be 1:100 per theory course;

(ii) Number of qualified supervisors per practical course of 2 credits: 1 or more;
(iii) Availability of laboratory: The laboratory should be in a recognised Higher Educational
Institution running a similar course in conventional mode for a period of not less than
3 years”.
RAJNISH JAIN, Secy. (UGC)
[ADVT.-III/4/Exty./214/18]
498
UGC Regulations