New Delhi: The Punjab Cabinet here on Friday gave nod to India’s first comprehensive policy under which private institutions can establish fully digital universities in the state.

The cabinet, which met here under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, “gave nod to the Punjab Private Digital Open Universities Policy, 2026 to regulate and promote private digital open universities offering online and open distance learning (ODL) programmes.

The policy aims for quality higher education for the students of the state and opening up employment opportunities for them, an official statement said.

The policy aligns with UGC Regulations, 2020, and introduces state-level standards for quality, accessibility, digital infrastructure, data governance, and learner protection, the statement said.

“This pioneering policy will expand flexible, affordable higher education and position Punjab as a digital learning hub,” it said.

“Under this policy, private institutions can establish fully digital universities in Punjab. This is India’s first such policy and so far. Only Tripura has set up a digital university, but........

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