UGC permit Top 100 Universities as per NIRF ranking to run Online Courses under PM e-VIDYA

The University Grants Commission has announced that the top 100 universities of the country according to the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) ranking will be permitted to automatically start online courses under the ‘PM e-VIDYA’ program as part of Atmanirbhar Bharat campaign. 

The PM e-VIDYA initiative was launched by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on May 17, to promote online education in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.

UGC Chairman Prof. DP Singh in an exclusive interview said – “We will soon bring out an integrated version of open and distance learning and online regulation after the approval of the Ministry of Human Resources and Development (MHRD). Under Atmanirbhar Bharat, the top 100 Universities according to the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) ranking, will run online classes without prior approval of UGC for the 2020-21 session.”

He further added that under the PM e-Vidya program, India will have more online universities and online education will be greatly strengthened. He added that the government plans to relax open, distance, and online education regulatory framework to expand e-learning in the realm of higher education.

As per reports, the PM e-Vidya initiative will allow multi-mode access to education and includes DIKSHA (one nation-one digital platform) for providing quality e-content in school education. As per the official release, there will be a dedicated channel for each class from 1-12. It is estimated that this scheme will benefit nearly 25 crore school-going children across the country.