No new admissions for healthcare-related courses in ODL from July 2025: UGC

Starting July-August 2025, higher education institutions will no longer be allowed to offer allied and healthcare programs, including psychology as a specialization, in online or distance learning formats.

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has issued a directive instructing all institutions to stop such courses, in line with the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP) Act, 2021.

According to the notification, any recognition already granted to universities or colleges for running these programs in the July-August 2025 session or later will stand withdrawn.

For programs with multiple specializations, such as Bachelor of Arts courses in English, Hindi, Economics, Political Science, Sociology, and others, only the subjects falling under the NCAHP Act will be discontinued.

The UGC has further clarified that no new admissions should be made to the affected programs from the upcoming session.

It has also asked all stakeholders to strictly comply with the decision.