List of degree courses that are not allowed for distance mode program is engineering, medicine, dental, pharmacy, nursing, architecture, physiotherapy and agriculture.
University Grant Commission (UGC) has ban higher education institutes and universities to carry out a professional degree in the form of distance mode or open education. In the latest circular, the commission has extended the number of courses under the scope of ‘professional’ courses was extended.
Including agriculture and related courses were also considered in the professional courses. Many institutes will have to shut down based on the new rules.
“To protect the interest of the students already enrolled in the agriculture degree programme, the Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) has been requested for hand-holding of such higher education institutions. However, no new enrolments will be permitted from the 2019 academic session,” a UGC official told PTI.