UGC Restricts Online & Distance Learning in Healthcare Education

UGC Restricts Online & Distance Learning in Healthcare Education 2025

The UGC's new rule is to stop admitting students to affected programs starting from the next session. The University Grants Commission (UGC) declared that all higher education institution stop offering allied and healthcare programs. 

These programs are governed by the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP) Act, 2021. 

It also includes psychology as a specialisation through open and distance learning mode. It will start from the July-August 2025 academic session.  UGC stated that any approval already given to run these courses in or after the July-August 2025 session will be cancelled. 

For degree programs with different specializations (BA in English, Hindi, Economics, Political Science, Sociology, etc), covered under the NCAHP Act, 2021 will be stopped. 

The notice also clearly mentions that no new admissions can be made to these restricted programs. 

Thousands of students will be affected by this decision. It includes students studying subjects such as Psychology, Microbiology, and Biotechnology. 

But the UGC has clarified that other BA subjects, such as English, Hindi, Punjabi, Economics, History, Mathematics, Philosophy, Political Science, Statistics, Sanskrit, Geography, and Sociology will continue to be offered in online and distance learning modes without any changes.