The University Grants Commission (UGC) ban on distance-learning courses in psychology has been a big setback to the careers and higher learning of more than 1.3 lakh students across the country. Apart from the current student list of those who are already enrolled in undergraduate and postgraduate psychology courses, even such graduates have begun suspecting the worthiness and reliability of their degree.
The action comes in the wake of a regulatory shift wherein certain subjects like psychology were brought under the purview of the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP), a statutory body formed through the NCAHP Act of 2021. The Distance Education Bureau (DEB) of the UGC thus revoked previously granted permissions to universities to offer courses in psychology in Open and Distance Learning (ODL) modes.
It is this fresh rule that has generated mass panic and confusion among the institutions, students, and instructors. Institutions that have operated such courses for generations have to go through the process of adjustment to this new situation while the students remain in doubt regarding their future academic and professional life.
The decision was made at the 592nd meeting of the UGC following which the commission stated that certain allied and healthcare science courses such as psychology, microbiology, nutrition science, and biotechnology come under the regulation domain of the NCAHP framed by an Act in 2021.
UGC CITES NCAHP ACT; EXPERTS QUESTION INCLUSION
The NCAHP, regulating 10 allied healthcare professional groups presently, has included "psychologist," "behavioural analyst," and "mental health support workers" in its list of gains under its regulation. It is because the overlap with the current courses in psychology that the UGC made efforts to prevent the universities from awarding psychology degrees under Open and Distance Learning (ODL) learning modes from July 2025.
The critics, however, opine that the academic psychology syllabus in distance courses is not following strictly healthcare functions, with ex-Delhi University SOL principal Dr US Pandey terming the distance course comparable to what is offered at regular colleges and inquiring why that is being singled out.
STUDENTS CAUGHT OFF GUARD
The prohibition has created general anxiety among students, with existing enrollments left wondering whether their certificates will be honoured and graduates unable to continue studying because of the absence of a grace period and uncertain destinies.
The absence of a grace period, normal in amendments to rules, added to the problem, and authorities were apprehensive about lawsuits against the UGC.
POPULAR, EXPANDING FIELD SUDDENLY BRACKETED
Psychology distance education programs have seen all-time high increases in the past two years. DEB statistics state that while there were 17 universities offering courses on psychology through ODL in 2020-21, there are 57 universities in 2024-25. They consist of 36 state universities, 11 state open universities, five private colleges, three deemed-to-be universities, and two central universities, Delhi University and Mizoram University.
Telangana and Tamil Nadu top the list of state universities providing such courses with 20 and eight, respectively. Osmania University, for example, has psychology as one of the subjects of a combined BA course in economics and English.
NEP GOALS IN QUESTION
Most experts believe that the ban is in contravention of the letter and spirit of the National Education Policy (NEP) and maintains that it closes classroom doors to learning and is an unjustified barrier, which contradicts the policy push towards flexibility and inclusion.
As the pressure from the teaching community and student union mounts, the attention of all now comes to whether the education ministry and the UGC will lift the ban at the cost of demoralizing thousands in expectations of a psychological tomorrow.
