The University Grants Commission (UGC) has issued a directive to all higher education institutions (HEIs) to discontinue offering healthcare and allied programmes through Open and Distance Learning (ODL) and online modes starting from the 2025-26 academic session. The decision impacts popular courses such as psychology, nutrition, microbiology, food science, biotechnology, and clinical dietetics, which fall under the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP) Act, 2021.
According to UGC Secretary Manish Joshi, “No higher educational institutions shall be permitted to offer any allied and healthcare programmes covered under the NCAHP Act, 2021, including psychology as a specialisation, through ODL or online mode from July-August 2025 onwards. Any recognition already granted for such programmes will stand withdrawn.”
Programmes Affected Under the UGC Directive
The ban applies to multiple academic disciplines, including:
- Psychology
- Microbiology
- Food and Nutrition Science
- Biotechnology
- Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics
Additionally, in the case of multi-specialisation programmes such as Bachelor of Arts (BA), only those specialisations linked to NCAHP disciplines like psychology will be discontinued, while other subjects such as English, History, Economics, and Sociology will remain unaffected.
No Admissions from Academic Session 2025
UGC has directed that no new admissions should be made to these restricted programmes starting from July-August 2025. Institutions already holding recognition for such courses will lose it, ensuring that the ban is uniformly enforced across universities and colleges.
The decision comes amid growing concerns about quality standards in professional training, especially in practice-oriented disciplines such as healthcare and allied sciences, which require hands-on experience and supervised learning that cannot be fully ensured in online or distance modes.
Recommendations Behind the UGC Ban
The move follows the 24th Distance Education Bureau (DEB) Working Group meeting held in April 2025, where experts highlighted the risks of diluting professional education through online or ODL platforms. The recommendations were later formalised in a recent UGC Commission meeting, resulting in a nationwide ban.
Other Professional Courses Already Prohibited in Distance Mode
It is important to note that the UGC has long prohibited professional and practice-based courses through ODL or online education. Courses in the following disciplines remain restricted:
- Engineering and Technology
- Medicine and Dentistry
- Pharmacy and Nursing
- Architecture and Physiotherapy
- Paramedical Sciences
- Law, Agriculture, Horticulture
- Hotel Management, Catering Technology, and Visual Arts
The inclusion of psychology, nutrition, and allied healthcare disciplines under the NCAHP Act has now extended this restriction further.
Impact on Students and Institutions
The ban will directly affect students planning to pursue psychology, nutrition, and allied programmes through online or distance modes. Such aspirants will now have to enrol in regular, full-time courses to obtain valid degrees in these fields. For institutions, the directive means a withdrawal of recognition and mandatory compliance starting from the upcoming session.
The UGC ban on psychology, nutrition, and healthcare-related ODL and online courses from 2025 is a landmark decision aimed at safeguarding quality and standards in higher education. While this may reduce flexibility for students seeking distance learning options, the move underscores the need for practical training and supervised education in professional disciplines.
