UGC approves 1-year postgraduate programmes in online, ODL mode

2 min readNew DelhiJul 30, 2026 10:24 AM IST Student enjoying after Degree Award Ceremony of graduating (Express Photo by Kamleshwar Singh)The University Grants Commission (UGC) has allowed educational institutions (HEIs) to offer one-year postgraduate programmes through the Open and Distance Learning (ODL) and online mode, in accordance with the National Education Policy (NEP). In a fresh circular, the Commission said the decision supersedes its earlier notification issued on July 24, and that under the revised guidelines, universities that are already recognised by the UGC to offer two-year postgraduate programmes through ODL or online mode can now also introduce a one-year postgraduate programme in the same discipline, subject to prescribed conditions.The UGC said the programme must com