Overview
- The UGC issued a circular dated July 28 that formally allows higher-education institutions to offer one-year postgraduate programmes in online and Open and Distance Learning modes.
- Only institutions already authorised by the UGC to run the corresponding two-year PG in the same discipline may introduce the one-year variant.
- Entry to the one-year courses is limited to students who hold a four-year bachelor's degree with Honours as specified under NEP 2020.
- Universities must secure approval from their statutory academic bodies such as the Board of Studies and Academic Council and must follow the UGC Curriculum and Credit Framework and the UGC (ODL/online) Regulations, 2020.
- The change aims to expand flexible study routes for learners and could speed postgraduate completion for Honours graduates, while professional programmes such as MBA, MCA and PGDM will remain governed by their sectoral regulators.