MBA and PGDM Courses Not Permissible in the Same Institution – Instructs AICTE

Giving another blow to the management institutes who are running university affiliated UGC approved MBA programmes as well as AICTE approved PGDM programmes, the controller of technical education in India, All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has issued instructions that both the courses cannot be conducted by the same institute. 

AICTE - the statutory body working under the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India, said in the recently issued circular that conducting Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM) and Master of Business Administration (MBA) courses in the same institution is not permissible. The circular addressed to heads of educational and management institutions says that the affiliated institutions have the option to either convert all the PGDM courses into corresponding MBA courses with University affiliation or vice-versa and conduct them under a separate standalone institute. The AICTE Circular strictly says "But an Institute cannot run both PGDM & MBA programs simultaneously."

AICTE Circular Cites Contravention of APH Norms
The AICTE circular clarifies, “AICIE started/initiated PGDM courses to be run by Standalone Institutions which were neither Universities nor affiliated to any University on the lines similar to IIMs. Over a period of time, Central/State/Private Universities and Deemed to be Universities have added PGDM course under the banner of "Management Programme" in contravention of APH norms."

The circular adds further, "In this context it is brought to your notice that as per the provisions contained in AICTE Regulations, 2020 and Para 2.18 of APH 2020-21 conducting PGDM and MBA Courses in the same Institution is "Not permissible." 

Compliance of AICTE Norms Sought
The circular has urged all the Central, State, Private Universities and Deemed to be Universities which are conducting both MBA and PGDM Programmes concurrently to convert PGDM courses as MBA completely and comply with the AICTE norms. 

Instructions for Affiliated Institutes        
The circular further makes clear, "Institutions affiliated to Universities too have the option of either converting all PGDM courses into corresponding MBA courses with respective University affiliation or vice-versa and run under a separate Standalone Institute. But an Institute cannot run both PGDM & MBA programs simultaneously."