46 Oriental, Conventional and Non-Conventional Learning
The Indian higher-education landscape includes three distinct streams: oriental (traditional indigenous learning), conventional (formal classroom-based modern university education), and non-conventional (open, distance, online, and modular learning).
TipThree Streams at a Glance
| Stream | What it covers | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Oriental | Traditional indigenous Indian learning systems | Sanskrit, Arabic, Persian; Vedic, Tibetan, Buddhist studies |
| Conventional | Formal modern university education with regular classroom attendance | Government and private universities, regular degree programmes |
| Non-Conventional | Distance, open, online, and modular learning | IGNOU, Open Universities, MOOCs, NIOS |
46.1 Oriental Learning
Oriental learning preserves and transmits classical knowledge systems of the East — Sanskrit and Vedic studies, Arabic, Persian, Tibetan, Pali, Buddhist studies, Indian aesthetics and performing arts, Yoga, Ayurveda, and traditional medicine.
TipOriental Universities and Institutions in India
- Banaras Hindu University (BHU) — major centre for Sanskrit, Hindi, Indian classical studies; founded 1916 by Madan Mohan Malaviya.
- Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) — Persian, Arabic and Islamic studies; founded as Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental College in 1875 by Sir Syed Ahmad Khan; became AMU 1920.
- Visva-Bharati (Shantiniketan) — founded by Rabindranath Tagore (1921); blends Indian classical and modern liberal arts.
- Sampurnanand Sanskrit University, Varanasi — exclusive Sanskrit university (1791 origin; current name 1974).
- Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan, New Delhi — Sanskrit deemed university.
- Central Sanskrit University (formerly Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan).
- Lal Bahadur Shastri Rashtriya Sanskrit Vidyapeetha.
- Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU) — Hyderabad.
- Central Universities for Tibetan Studies — Sarnath, Varanasi.
- University of Mysore — early Sanskrit-friendly university.
- NIIH (National Institute of Indian Heritage).
- AYUSH-affiliated institutions — Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Homeopathy.
46.2 Conventional (Formal) Higher Education
Conventional higher education is full-time, classroom-based, regular-attendance learning leading to degrees, diplomas, or certificates.
TipFeatures of Conventional Education
- Fixed academic calendar with semesters or trimesters.
- Daily attendance required.
- Face-to-face teaching, in-person assessment.
- Hierarchy: undergraduate → postgraduate → doctoral.
- Recognised by UGC, AICTE, MCI, BCI, etc.
- Three categories of universities: Central, State, Deemed, Private.
46.3 Non-Conventional Higher Education
TipForms of Non-Conventional Education
| Form | What it does |
|---|---|
| Distance Education | Learning at a distance through correspondence, study material |
| Open Education | No barriers of age, prior qualifications, time |
| Online Education | Through internet, LMS, MOOCs |
| Blended Learning | Combines online + offline |
| Modular Learning | Modules earned across institutions/time |
| Self-paced | Learner controls pace |
| Vocational / Skill | Skill-based, employment-oriented |
46.4 Major Indian Open and Distance-Learning Institutions
TipIndian Open Education Bodies
- IGNOU (Indira Gandhi National Open University) — established 1985 by Act of Parliament; world’s largest open university with 4+ million learners.
- NIOS (National Institute of Open Schooling) — for school-level open learning; world’s largest open schooling system.
- State Open Universities — Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra (1989), Dr B.R. Ambedkar Open University Hyderabad (first state open university, 1982), Tamil Nadu Open University, Karnataka State Open University, etc.
- Commonwealth of Learning — international open-learning body of which India is a founding member.
46.5 Online Education in India
TipMajor Indian Online Education Platforms
- SWAYAM — Government MOOC platform.
- SWAYAM PRABHA — DTH educational TV channels.
- NPTEL — engineering and science MOOCs by IITs and IISc.
- e-PG Pathshala — UGC’s PG e-content.
- NDLI — National Digital Library.
- Coursera, edX, Udemy — international platforms with Indian usage.
- DIKSHA — school education.
46.6 NEP 2020 and Online Learning
NEP 2020 strongly endorses online and blended learning:
- Top 100 universities are permitted to offer online programmes.
- Academic Bank of Credits (ABC) — store and transfer online and offline credits.
- Multiple entry and exit with credit accumulation.
- National Educational Technology Forum (NETF) for guidance.
46.7 Distance Education Bureau (DEB)
The Distance Education Bureau (DEB) is part of UGC; oversees Open Distance Learning (ODL) and online programmes in India. It replaced the Distance Education Council (DEC) of IGNOU in 2013.
46.8 Vocational and Skill-Based Education
Vocational education is non-conventional in the sense of being practice-oriented and modular. Major Indian vocational pathways:
TipVocational and Skill Bodies
- Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) — industrial trades.
- Polytechnics — diploma engineering.
- NSDC (National Skill Development Corporation) — established 2009.
- PMKVY (Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana) — flagship skill training scheme.
- Skill India Mission (2015) — umbrella initiative.
- Sector Skill Councils — industry-led standardisation.
- National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF) — competency-based framework.
46.9 Practice Questions
Q 01
IGNOU
Easy
IGNOU stands for:
View solution
Correct Option: A
IGNOU = Indira Gandhi National Open University — the world's largest open university, est. 1985.
Q 02
First Open University
Medium
India's first state open university was established in 1982 as:
View solution
Correct Option: B
The Dr B.R. Ambedkar Open University, Hyderabad (originally Andhra Pradesh Open University) was India's first state open university (1982).
Q 03
BHU
Medium
Banaras Hindu University was founded by:
View solution
Correct Option: B
Banaras Hindu University was founded by Madan Mohan Malaviya in 1916.
Q 04
Visva-Bharati
Medium
Visva-Bharati at Shantiniketan was founded by:
View solution
Correct Option: A
Rabindranath Tagore founded Visva-Bharati at Shantiniketan in 1921.
Q 05
AMU
Medium
Aligarh Muslim University traces its origin to the 1875 Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental College, founded by:
View solution
Correct Option: B
Sir Syed Ahmad Khan founded the Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental College in 1875; it became AMU in 1920.
Q 06
NIOS
Medium
NIOS — National Institute of Open Schooling — is the world's largest:
View solution
Correct Option: B
NIOS is the world's largest open schooling system for school-level education.
Q 07
NSDC
Medium
The National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) was established in:
View solution
Correct Option: A
NSDC was set up in 2009 as a public-private partnership; Skill India Mission was launched in 2015.
Q 08
Distance Education Bureau
Hard
The Distance Education Bureau (DEB) is part of:
View solution
Correct Option: A
The DEB is a unit of UGC, having taken over (in 2013) the regulatory functions previously held by IGNOU's DEC.
ImportantQuick recall
- Three streams: Oriental, Conventional, Non-Conventional.
- Oriental institutions: BHU (Malaviya 1916), AMU (Sir Syed 1875/1920), Visva-Bharati (Tagore 1921), Sampurnanand Sanskrit University.
- Open: IGNOU (1985), NIOS (school), Dr B.R. Ambedkar OU Hyderabad (first state OU 1982).
- Online: SWAYAM, SWAYAM PRABHA, NPTEL, e-PG Pathshala, NDLI.
- Skills: NSDC (2009), Skill India Mission (2015), PMKVY, NSQF, ITIs, polytechnics.
- Distance Education Bureau (DEB) = UGC unit (since 2013).