Will ensure necessary approvals from UGC for Ambedkar Open University in A.P., says TDP MP

TDP MP and party’s Parliamentary Chairperson in the Lok Sabha Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu on Sunday (December 14, 2025) said that he will ensure all the necessary approvals from the University Grants Commission (UGC) for the proposed establishment of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Open University at Eluru in Andhra Pradesh.

In a statement, the Officer on Special Duty (OSD) of the University Velaga Joshi said he, along with academician K. Subba Reddy, met Mr. Devarayulu in New Delhi where the latter gave them assurance that he would write to the UGC and personally pursue the matter to expedite the process.

Mr. Joshi said that he discussed the requirements and formalities related to the establishment of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Open University and submitted a comprehensive report outlining all relevant details to the MP.

After the bifurcation of the State, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Open University continued to function as a common institution for both States for a period of 10 years. With the completion of this 10-year period, the need arose to establish a separate Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Open University, exclusively for Andhra Pradesh. In this context, the State government took the initiative and decided to set up the university in Eluru and issued necessary government orders. However, due to certain technical issues, the immediate establishment of the university could not take place. This necessitated specific amendments and approvals from the UGC.

Accordingly, a detailed report with comprehensive information has been submitted to the UGC by the Andhra Pradesh State Council of Higher Education. The issuance of a formal notification by the UGC is now awaited.

Every year, nearly 40,000 students in the State pursue various courses through distance education under Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Open University. However, due to the lack of operational activities in recent times, the admissions process has come to a standstill. As a result, thousands of students have been deprived of the opportunity to continue their studies through distance learning.

In this backdrop, Mr. Joshi and Mr. Subba Reddy requested the TDP MP to take immediate steps to secure UGC approvals and to facilitate the establishment of the University at Eluru on a war footing.