Page 526 - Compendium of UGC Regulations 1957-2023

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

Provided also that an Institution Deemed to be a University under section 3 of the
University Grants Commission Act, 1956 shall offer programmes in Open and
Distance Learning mode in accordance with the extant Deemed to be University
Regulations and also in compliance to the provisions of these regulations;

(B) Online Mode
(a) Higher Educational Institutions having NAAC score 3.26 and above or having
rank in Top-100 in University category of National Institutional Ranking
Framework, at least twice in three preceding cycles (at the time of application),
shall be permitted to start full-fledged Online programmes without prior approval
of the UGC, provided it satisfies all the conditions mentioned in these regulations:
Provided that the Higher Educational Institutions can start maximum of three (03)
Under Graduate (UG) programmes and ten (10) Post Graduate (PG) programmes
with the approval of its statutory authorities and in strict compliance with the
provisions of these regulations:
Provided further that the NAAC and NIRF Ranking requirements shall be valid
for academic session 2020-2021 (session beginning July, 2020 and January, 2021)
only and shall be reviewed subsequently by the Commission for the academic
session 2021-2022 (session beginning July 2021) and onwards:

Provided also that Higher Educational Institutions shall be required to submit
application and desired information, and comply to all the provisions of the
regulations and shall be required to submit an affidavit to the UGC:

Provided also, that in case, the Higher Educational Institutions want to start more
than the defined number of programmes, then they shall seek prior permission
from the Commission.
(b) Any Higher Educational Institution, may apply for offering programmes through
the Online mode, which fulfils the following conditions, namely:-
(i) shall be in existence for at least three years; and
(ii) shall be accredited by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council
with minimum score of 3.01 on a 4-point scale;
or
shall be in the top-100 in University category in the National Institutional
Ranking Framework for at least once in last two preceding cycles (at the
time of application):
Provided that the NAAC and NIRF Ranking requirements shall be valid for
academic session 2020-2021 (session beginning July, 2020 and January,
2021) only and shall be reviewed subsequently by the Commission for the
academic session 2021-2022 (session beginning July 2021) and onwards:
Provided further that the condition mentioned at item (ii) of sub-clause
(b) shall not be applicable to the Open Universities already recognised by
the Commission for offering Open and Distance Learning programmes
or Online programmes for the academic year 2019-2020. These Open
Universities shall be required to submit an affidavit that they shall obtain
National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) accreditation
prior to the completion of the current recognition period, as specified in the
Commission order already issued, failing which the Commission shall not
accord further recognition to the programmes of such Open Universities
under Online mode:

525
University Grants Commission