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UGC Opens Applications For ODL And Online Programmes For 2026

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The University Grants Commission (UGC) has opened applications for eligible Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) seeking recognition to offer Open and Distance Learning (ODL) and online programmes for the 2026-27 academic year, covering sessions beginning January to February 2027 and onwards.Institutions can submit applications through the Distance Education Bureau (DEB) portal from 1 September to 15 September, with the process aimed at bringing eligible programmes under the regulator’s prescribed quality and compliance framework.Application Window And ProcessThe fresh application process applies to institutions seeking recognition under Regulation 3(A) and Regulation 3(B)(b) of the UGC (Open and Distance Learning Programmes and Online Programmes) Regulations, 2020, and subsequent amendments. HEIs must submit their applications online through the DEB portal during the specified window.Institutions are also required to send hard copies of original affidavits and annexures to the Joint Secretary at the Distance Education Bureau in New Delhi. These documents must reach the bureau by 25 September, 2026.The application process is significant for universities and other higher education providers seeking to expand their academic offerings through flexible learning models. Recognition from the regulator remains a key requirement for institutions operating programmes under the ODL and online framework.Approval Remains Subject To ScrutinyThe UGC has clarified that submitting an application does not automatically result in recognition. Applications will be examined against the quality and regulatory requirements prescribed under the 2020 ODL and Online Programmes Regulations.The commission has also retained a year-round application window for Category-I HEIs and institutions that are already entitled to offer online programmes. This allows eligible institutions to submit applications beyond the September window, subject to the applicable regulatory requirements.The move comes as online and distance education continues to form an important part of India’s higher education ecosystem, allowing institutions to offer programmes beyond conventional campus based delivery. For universities, the regulatory approval process will determine whether proposed programmes can be offered under the recognised ODL and online framework.