Government Banned Universities for Online Degrees - Is Yours on the List?

Universities Banned From Offering Online Degrees

The University Grants Commission (UGC) maintains a clear regulatory framework to ensure the quality and credibility of online education in India. The University Grants Commission (Open and Distance Learning Programmes and Online Programmes) regulations establish the minimum standards of instruction for offering undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in both open and distance learning and online modes.

UGC has prohibited two Indian universities from offering online programmes due to non-compliance of UGC regulations. These universities are named under the ‘No Admission Category’ and have been prohibited from offering ODL and/or Online programmes. Here is the list of universities banned from offering online degrees.

As per the UGC document, Suresh Gyan Vihar University, Rajasthan has never been accorded any recognition to offer programmes in online mode by the UGC.

Also Read: Think Twice! These Online Programs Could Be a Waste of Your Time and Money

How to Verify If Your University Is Approved?

Many students avoid researching before enrolling in any programmes, which can lead them pursuing degrees from unapproved institutions. This makes their degree worthless and invalid for jobs, further studies, or government exams. To avoid this, students must take these steps to ensure the validity of their universities and online degree courses:

UGC-DEB Portal

The University Grants Commission is the regulatory authority responsible for approving and monitoring online and ODL (Open and Distance Learning) programmes in India. The UGC-DEB portal helps students verify whether a university is approved to offer online or distance education in India.

Students must check the list of approved online programmes and stay updated with any bans or restrictions placed on institutions through this portal. They must register on UGC-DEB web portal (https://deb.uec.ac.in/ and https://deb.uec.ac.in/StudentDebld) with their Academic Bank of Credit (ABC)-ID for generating a unique DEB-ID and for transparent admission process in online programmes.

AICTE Approval

The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) regulates technical and management education in India, including online MBA, and MCA programmes. Students must visit the official website and search for the institutions under the list of approved programmes. AICTE approval is essential for professional programmes offered in online or blended mode.

NAAC Accreditation

The National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) assesses and grades institutions based on quality benchmarks. A NAAC Grade A or higher is a strong indicator of the institution’s educational standards. Learners must check their university’s NAAC grade to ensure it meets the required quality standards for offering credible online degree programmes.

NIRF Ranking

The National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) ranks institutions annually based on parameters such as faculty quality, placements, and overall academic performance. NIRF ranking of an institution adds credibility to the degree. Thus, students must research these rankings across different categories, such as universities, management, and others, based on their subject domain to make informed choices.

Also Read: Are Online Technical Degrees Valid in India?

How To Identify Fake Universities Offering Online Degrees?

Several unrecognised institutions have started offering online degrees without the necessary approvals. These universities often use misleading advertisements and lack academic credibility. To protect students from failing into such traps, the points below highlight the ways to identify fake or unapproved institutions offering online degrees in India:

• Verify if the university holds UGC-DEB approval for the relevant academic session.
• Avoid institutions that engage in exaggerated claims without recognised accreditation.
• Check for detailed programme highlights and structured course information.
• Ensure university is NAAC and NIRF ranked and is listed on the official UGC-DEB or AICTE portal.
• Students should not enrol through agents or third-party platforms, admissions must be done directly through the university.

To ensure a valid and recognised qualification, students must verify an institution’s approval through accredited indicators before enrolling in programmes in online and distance mode. They must avoid universities that lack accreditation to save money, and secure their academic and professional future.