Punjab introduces policy for private digital open universities

The Punjab Higher Education Department has introduced a new policy allowing private institutions to set up digital open universities, enabling students to pursue degree programs entirely online from their homes.

Under the Punjab Private Digital Open Universities Policy, Punjab joins Kerala as one of the few states permitting private participation in digital higher education. The rules were notified on Jan 15.

According to the notification issued by Administrative Secretary of Higher Education Anindita Mitra, the objective of a private digital open university is “to provide teaching and training in higher education through digital, online, distance, or open modes and to make provisions for research and innovation through technology-enabled systems.”

Mitra said these universities will offer undergraduate, postgraduate, and professional programs through online instruction, digital assessments, virtual laboratories, and other technology based tools, using the internet to bridge the gap between teachers and learners.

The policy lays down eligibility conditions for private players, including a minimum of five years of credible experience in online education and a corpus fund of at least ₹20 crore.

Applicants must also submit a processing fee of ₹5 lakh to the state higher education department, followed by a payment of ₹20 lakh after receiving approval.

To protect local students, the policy mandates that at least 15% of seats be reserved for learners domiciled in Punjab. The government has also said it may impose penalties of up to ₹25 lakh on institutions found violating UGC or other regulatory norms.

While digital open universities will be required to maintain a physical campus, it will function only as an administrative headquarters, and no classroom teaching will be conducted on site.