Amid the controversy surrounding the four-year undergraduate programme of Delhi University (DU), the University Grants Commission (UGC) has issued a notice to all vice-chancellors saying no university shall confer a degree in violation of the UGC Act.

It said if a university wishes to award a degree other than the one specified by the UGC, it would have to approach the panel for its approval six months prior to starting the degree programme with full justification for the course to be started.

“It shall be mandatory for the universities to adhere to the approved nomenclature of degrees and ensure the observence of minimum standards of instruction before award of a degree,” the notice said.

The notice comes at a time when the UGC has asked DU to review the controversial four-year undergraduate programme.