Open Universities

Open Universities cater to people who are unable to pursue regular courses due to various reasons.  

India's Ministry of Education lists 13 State Open Universities (SOUs) set up by the respective state grants. They provide education only in the distance mode. 
  1. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Open University (BRAOU), Hyderabad, A.P. - (1982)
  2. Vardhman Mahaveer Open University (VMOU), Kota, Rajasthan - (1987)
  3. Nalanda Open University (NOU). Patna, Bihar - (1987)
  4. Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University (YCMOU), Nashik, Maharashtra - (1989)
  5. Madhya Pradesh Bhoj Open University (MPBOU), Bhopal, M.P. - (1991)
  6. Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Open University (BAOU), Ahmedabad, Gujarat - (1994)
  7. Karnataka State Open University (KSOU), Mysore, Karnataka – (1996)
  8. Netaji Subhas Open University (NSOU), Kolkata, W.B. - (1997)
  9. U.P. Rajarshi Tandon Open University (UPRTOU), Allahabad, U.P. - (1998)
  10. Tamil Nadu Open University (TNOU), Chennai, Tamil Nadu - (2002)
  11. Pt. Sunderlal Sharma Open University (PSSOU), Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh - (2005)
  12. Uttarakhand Open University, Haldwani, Distt. Nainitall, Uttarakhand
  13. Krishna Kanta Handique State Open University, Guwahati, Assam
  14. Odisha State Open University

There is another list on Wikipedia that includes Universities in India that offer distance education programs. 

[Dec 2024 Update] The University Grants Commission (UGC) has debarred NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad, from offering online and distance learning (ODL) programs due to the university's failure to submit required documents for the academic year 2024-25. The ban is expected to affect 3,000 to 4,000 students who register for these online courses annually, a trend that has persisted since their inception 18 years ago. Before the ban, NALSAR provided about 25 Masters and Advanced Diploma courses via distance learning through its Centre for Distance and Online Education (CDOE).

The National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) annually evaluates institutions across the country using five parameters: "Teaching, Learning, and Resources," "Research and Professional Practices," "Graduation Outcomes," "Outreach and Inclusivity," and "Perception."

In 2024, the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), Netaji Subhash Open University, and Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Open University in Ahmedabad were ranked as the top three Open Universities respectively.

Some critics have raised concerns about the methodology [PDF] used by the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) to rank various universities and they believe the ranking may not reflect ground realities.