No approval required to run technical programmes in open and distance learning
PTC News Desk: The University Grants Commission (UGC) has issued a notification stating that it will not be mandatory for state/private universities to obtain approval from the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) to run technical programmes.
Following the new development, central, state, and private universities will no longer need to obtain prior approval or no objection certification (NOC) from AICTE before applying to UGC to offer undergraduate, postgraduate, and postgraduate diploma programmes in Management, Computer Application, and Travel and Tourism disciplines via open and distance learning (ODL) or online mode.
However, deemed universities will continue to require prior approval/recommendation/NOC from the AICTE before submitting their application to the commission.
A notice issued by the university body states, "The Commission considered the communication received from AICTE staring that as per Hon 'ble Supreme Court Judgement in Bharathidasan University and another vs All India Council for Technical Education and Others (2001, 8 SCC 676, it is not mandatory for the State/Private Universities to take AICTE approval to run technical programmes."
"After detailed deliberations, the commission decided that for universities whether State or Central or Private, prior approval recommendation NOC of AICTE shall not be required, as per UGC (ODL Programmes and Online Programmes) Regulations, 2020 for offering programmes in ODL and or online made."
- With inputs from agencies
