TIA NEWS

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has prohibited imparting distance degree programmes in agriculture. The decision was taken by the higher education regulator at its last meeting on the ground that a degree programme in agriculture is technical in nature as it requires practicals or laboratory courses. The Union agriculture ministry had referred the matter to the commission.

As per UGC Open and Distance Learning Regulations, 2017, professional programmes such as medicine, engineering, and architecture, are not permitted to be offered in distance mode. To protect the interest of the students already enrolled to the agriculture degree programme, the Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) has been requested for hand-holding of such institutions.

However, no new enrolments will be permitted from the 2019 academic session. Nasik-based Yashwant Rao Chavan Maharashtra Open University (YCMOU), Annamalai University, Indira Gandhi National Open University are among the institutions offering degree and diploma programmes in agriculture science.