
India’s higher education regulators said that the open or distance learning degrees obtained through online examinations will not be considered valid. According to regulators, rules don’t allow such tests.
The University Grants Commission’s (UGC) distance education bureau has found several distance learning institutions and universities approved by the regulator are breaching rules by offering online examinations.
A commission’s letter to all open universities revealed that these institutions had agreed to conditions such as “no online programme leading to award of degree/certification … until a policy is framed and approved by the UGC.”
UGC doesn’t approve online examinations as it involves complexities like conducting the exam for large group with a foolproof system and a reliable network, connecting the exam centres, preparing question banks etc.
“UGC has not laid down any standard parameters,” the letters says, barring universities from conducting online examinations.
