UGC Bans Online and Distance Learning in Psychology, Nutrition Courses

UGC withdraws recognition for online and distance programmes in healthcare and allied fields from 2025 session.

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has directed all higher education institutions to discontinue offering healthcare and allied courses through Open and Distance Learning (ODL) or online mode starting from the July–August 2025 academic session.

This directive follows the provisions of the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP) Act, 2021. The courses affected include psychology, microbiology, food and nutrition science, biotechnology, clinical nutrition, and dietetics.

According to UGC Secretary Manish Joshi, any recognition already granted to institutions for offering such programmes in the upcoming session will be withdrawn. He further clarified that in multidisciplinary programmes such as a Bachelor of Arts with multiple specialisations, only those specialisations falling under the NCAHP Act, 2021—such as psychology—will be withdrawn.

Institutions have also been instructed not to admit any new students into these restricted programmes from the upcoming academic session.

The move aims to safeguard the quality of professional training in healthcare and allied fields, ensuring that practical and skill-based learning standards are not compromised through online or distance modes.