UGC extends ODL, online course admission deadline to April 10

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has extended the last date for admission to Open and Distance Learning (ODL) and Online Programmes for the academic year 2025-26, academic session February 2026 to April 10.

Earlier, the last date to apply for distance learning online programmes was March 30. However, requests received from several higher educational institutions (HEIs), the UGC has extended the admission deadline, according to an official statement.

The commission has also extended the last date for HEIs to submit admission data on the UGC Distance Education Bureau (DEB) portal via reverse API. Institutions can now submit the admission data till April 13, which was earlier scheduled for March 31.

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UGC ODL, online courses

“UGC has decided to extend the last date to admit learners in ODL or Online Programmes for the academic session February 2026, from 30th March 2026 to 10th April 2026,” as per the official statement.

The UGC said that all HEIs offering courses through distance learning and online modes must follow the new schedule.

The commission also asked students to be careful while taking admission in distance and online courses. It advised them to check if both the course and the institution are approved on the UGC-DEB portal before enrolling.

Some UGC-recognised universities offering ODL programmes include National Sanskrit University, Rajiv Gandhi University, Tezpur University, University of Delhi, Jamia Millia Islamia, Central University of Haryana, Mahatma Gandhi Antarrashtriya Hindi Vishwavidyalaya, Pondicherry University, and Maulana Azad National Urdu University, Hyderabad.