How to Verify if an Online Degree is Valid and Recognised in India

Shilpa Nigam
Author :
Shilpa Nigam
Last Updated on : 11 Jan 2026 05:28PM

UGC and DEB are the conducting authorities to verify an online degree in India. You can check the university’s validity on the official UGC website. You may confirm if the degree is recorded in the National Academic Depository (NAD) or not.

Here are the steps to verify UGC-recognised online degrees

  • Check UGC & DEB Approval: Visit the UGC website and confirm the university and specific program are approved for online or ODL mode. Legitimate universities will clearly state their UGC and DEB approvals on their official websites.

  • Verify on NAD: Ensure the university uploads your degree to the National Academic Depository for digital verification.

  • Confirm Program Approval: Make sure the exact online program is listed as an approved offering on the UGC portal. Ensure the program you are enrolling in is not on a list of courses banned from distance/online mode, such as some allied health programs.

  • Check AICTE Recognition (for technical courses): Verify AICTE approval for engineering, management, or other technical programs.

  • Look for Additional Accreditations: Check NAAC accreditation. The Universities offering fully online programs must have a NAAC score of 3.01 or above. If online verification isn’t available, confirm details through the registrar’s office.

  • Point to consider:  Be careful of universities that offer degrees too quickly, have no admission requirements, or ask for a single lump-sum fee without explaining the charges.

Top ten UGC-DEB-approved university list 2026

This UGC-DEB-approved university list for 2026 highlights top public institutions that blend the best of traditional and online learning, offering trusted academic quality along with the flexibility and convenience of digital education.

Following is the UGC approved distance education universities list

  1. Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU):  Holds a prestigious A++ accreditation from NAAC and is recognised as the No. 1 Open University in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF).

  1. Amity University Online: Amity University Online is India's first UGC-approved online, highly-regarded private university with a variety of UGC-approved online courses and strong industry connections. 

  1. Lovely Professional University (LPU) Online: Offers online BBA, MBA, and MCA programs with strong placement support, holding a UGC-DEB approval and NAAC A+ grade.

  1. Chandigarh University Online: A popular choice for its UGC-approved online MBA and other industry-aligned courses.

  1. Dr D. Y. Patil Online, Pimpri, Pune: Deemed-to-be university, is known for its multidisciplinary programs and commitment to research and innovation. It is recognised for its academic excellence, holding an A++ NAAC accreditation and various national rankings for its cleanliness and facilities.

  1. Alagappa University: It offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs and is accredited with an A+ Grade by NAAC and recognised as a Category-I University by the MHRD-UGC

  1. University of Delhi (SOL): The School of Open Learning (SOL), part of the University of Delhi, is a pioneer institution in distance and open education in India.

  1. Chitkara University Online: Chitkara University Online is the e-learning division of the well-regarded, NAAC A+ accredited Chitkara University, which is recognised by the University Grants Commission (UGC) and AICTE.

  1. GITAM (Gandhi Institute of Technology and Management): A deemed university that offers online BBA and PG courses.

  1. Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU): Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) is a public university offers online and distance learning options through its digital platform. It provides a wide range of programs in fields like humanities, social sciences, IT, and more.

UGC approved online degree courses in India

Best UGC-approved online degree courses in India include popular programs like BBA, BCA, MBA, and MCA from trusted universities such as Amity University, Chandigarh University, and IGNOU. 

Students also give strong feedback to courses like B.Com, MA, and M.Sc. with in-demand specialisations such as Data Science, Digital Marketing, and Finance. This is UGC UGC-approved course list.

Bachelor’s Degree Programs

  • Online BBA: This program offers specialisations like Digital Marketing, Business Analytics, and Banking.

  • Online BCA: You can choose streams such as Cyber Security, Data Science, or AI & ML.

  • Online B.Com: This degree focuses on accounting and finance, with some universities offering ACCA-linked courses.

  • B.A Online: You can study subjects like English, Economics, or Journalism & Mass Communication.

  • B.Sc: This program includes fields such as Computer Science and Data Science & and AI.

Master’s Degree Programs

  • Online MBA: Learners can pick from specialisations like Marketing, Finance, HR, and Supply Chain Management.

  • Online MCA: This degree offers advanced options such as AI & ML, Full Stack Development, and Data Analytics.

  • M.Sc: You can pursue fields like Data Science, Mathematics, and Economics.

  • M.A.: This program includes subjects such as English, Political Science, and History.

  • M.Com Online: This course focuses on higher-level business, finance, and accounting studies.

 

FAQ's
You can verify an online degree by checking whether the university is approved by UGC and whether the specific program is listed under UGC-DEB recognised online courses. Always cross-check the university name on the official UGC website.
UGC-DEB (Distance Education Bureau) approval confirms that a university is legally allowed to offer online and distance education programs in India. Without UGC-DEB approval, an online degree is not considered valid for jobs or higher education.

Yes, online degrees are valid for government jobs only if they are awarded by a UGC-recognised university and the program is approved under online mode. Degrees from unapproved institutions are not accepted in government recruitment.

Most private companies accept online degrees from reputed and UGC-approved universities, especially for management, IT, commerce, and analytics roles. Employer acceptance improves when the university has strong accreditation and industry reputation.
Yes, as per UGC guidelines, online degrees from approved universities are equivalent to regular degrees for employment, higher education, and competitive exams, provided all regulatory norms are met.

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