UGC does not approve one-year MBA course: RTI reply

NEW DELHI: The University Grants Commission (UGC) does not allow one year MBA programme, according to a query filed by the Careers360 under the Right To Information (RTI) Act. As per the UGC guidelines, MBA is officially a two-year course.

"The degrees, diplomas, certificates are verified and validated by the issuing authority. Distance Education Bureau (DEB), UGC can provide the recognition status of the university." The RTI replied in response to a question whether 1 year MBA programmes offered by Indian universities are valid as per the nomenclatures and specification of degrees approved by the UGC.

The specification of level of degree, minimum duration of a programme and minimum qualification required at the entry level have been notified in the ‘Specification of Degrees, 2014’ published in the Gazette of India in July, 2014. According to this, universities will be allowed to offer MBA programmes after approval from the competent authority. It is officially a two-year postgraduate degree programme.

Also read No policy for 10-day MBA, confirms AICTE amid Vivek Bindra row

As per the UGC regulations 1985 regarding the minimum standards of instructions for the grant of the first degree through non-formal or distance education, “no student will be eligible for the award of the first degree unless he has successfully completed a three year course; this degree may be called the BA/BSc/BCom (General Honours/Special) degree as the case may be.”

The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), which provides approval for universities to offer MBA programmes, has recently warned students of the fake 10-day MBA programme courses advertised. The notification came after Vivek Bindra, a motivational speaker, Bada Business Private Limited advertised a 10-day MBA programme.