The University Grants Commission (UGC) has issued a directive to higher education institutions (HEIs) to discontinue offering healthcare and allied programmes under the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP) Act, 2021, through Open and Distance Learning (ODL) or online mode. The ban will take effect from the 2025-26 academic session, starting July-August.
UGC BANS ONLINE AND ODL HEALTHCARE PROGRAMMES FROM 2025-26
The decision follows recommendations from the 24th Distance Education Bureau Working Group meeting held in April 2025 and was formalised during the UGC’s 592nd meeting on July 23, 2025.
The ban targets specialisations such as Psychology, Microbiology, Food and Nutrition Science, Biotechnology, Clinical Nutrition, and Dietetics.
Institutions that already received recognition to offer these programmes in online or ODL mode will have it withdrawn.
HEIs have also been instructed not to admit any new students into these courses from the 2025-26 session onwards. In multi-specialisation degrees, only healthcare-related components will be affected.
For example, a Bachelor of Arts programme with multiple majors including Psychology will see only the Psychology stream removed from ODL or online delivery.
STRICTER OVERSIGHT ON FOREIGN COLLABORATIONS AND UNRECOGNISED COURSES
The UGC’s directive comes amid growing concern over unrecognised collaborations with foreign educational providers.
The higher education regulator has reiterated that degrees or diplomas awarded through such unapproved arrangements will be invalid in India.
Institutions entering into partnerships without explicit UGC approval under the 2022 and 2023 joint and dual-degree frameworks will have their programmes deemed unrecognised.
This notice builds on an earlier advisory from December 12, 2023, which warned HEIs against unauthorised tie-ups with foreign institutions.
Despite repeated guidance, several colleges and EdTech platforms continued offering online or joint programmes with foreign partners lacking UGC recognition.
Legal and academic experts say the move is aimed at safeguarding students from enrolling in courses that may not be valid for employment or further studies.
The decision also reinforces the UGC’s oversight of the growing online education sector, particularly in healthcare and allied disciplines where professional recognition is critical.
By pulling online healthcare programmes from ODL delivery, the UGC is signalling stricter compliance requirements for HEIs and foreign collaborations. Students and institutions alike are being urged to align with the regulations to avoid invalid degrees and potential legal complications.
