The University Grants Commission (UGC), the regulatory body in higher education, has prohibited imparting distance degree programmes in agriculture. The decision was taken by the higher education regulator at its last meeting considering that a degree programme in agriculture is technical in nature as it requires practicals or laboratory courses.

As per UGC Open and Distance Learning Regulations, 2017, professional programmes such as medicine, engineering, architecture, nursing, dental, pharmacy and physiotherapy, are not permitted to be offered in distance mode. The universities that offer agriculture include Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University (YCMOU), Nasik, IGNOU, Annamalai University, Kuvempu University and Nalanada Open University.

“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 higher education institutions. However, no new enrolments will be permitted from the 2019 academic session,” PTI quoted a senior official.