Overview

• For 2025–26, 101 universities and 20 Category-1 institutions are cleared for ODL, 113 universities for online courses, and 13 institutions for Online Learning, per the official list.
• HEIs must complete admissions and upload learner data via the DEB portal’s reverse API by October 15 for the cycle beginning July–August 2025.
• Deemed-to-be universities require an AICTE no-objection certificate to run ODL or online programmes in management, computer applications, and travel and tourism, while central, state and private universities need no prior AICTE approval for these streams.
• Providers must adhere to territorial jurisdiction rules, maintain approved Learner Support Centres, meet entry, admission, duration and credit specifications, and may not run online programmes through franchise arrangements; Category-1 institutions may offer ODL only while they retain that status.
• Institutions have filed affidavits taking responsibility for submissions, and UGC warned that misleading information or regulatory violations can trigger action, including penalties under Regulation 7.