<span style="color: #222222;">The University Grants Commission (UGC) on Wednesday released guidelines for pursuing two academic programmes simultaneously.  According to the guidelines, the student can pursue two full-time academic programmes simultaneously in physical mode provided that class timings for one programme do not overlap with another. A student can also pursue two academic programmes, one in full-time physical mode and another in Distance Learning or Online mode simultaneously. The degree or diploma programmes under Online mode will be pursued with only such higher education institutions which are recognized by UGC or the Central Government for running such programmes. The UGC said, no retrospective benefit can be claimed by the students who have already done two academic programmes simultaneously prior to the notification of these guidelines.<br />''<br />''Keeping in view the objectives envisaged in the National Education Policy, the guidelines aimed at recognizing, identifying, and fostering the unique capabilities of each student, by sensitizing teachers as well as parents to promote each student's holistic development in both academic and non-academic spheres. It also has the objective that there should be no hard separations between arts and sciences, curricular and extra-curricular activities, vocational and academic streams in order to eliminate harmful hierarchies among and silos between different areas of learning.  <br />''<br />''The UGC has written a letter to Vice Chancellors of all Universities and Principals of all colleges and institutions about these guidelines. </span><br />