Is an Open University degree accepted for government exams?

abhi2807 · 2025-08-07T11:09:42+00:00

Yes, an Open University degree is generally accepted for government exams, provided your degree is from a UGC-DEB-approved university or an open university e...

abhi2807

Yes, an Open University degree is generally accepted for government exams, provided your degree is from a UGC-DEB-approved university or an open university established by Parliament, such as IGNOU.

Major Sarkari Exam

UPSC Civil Services Examination explicitly accepts degrees from open universities and distance education, so degrees from IGNOU, for example, are valid.
SSC exams (like CGL, CHSL, MTS): require a degree from a recognized institution, and distance degrees are acceptable if from UGC-DEB-approved universities.
Banking exams (IBPS PO/Clerk, SBI, RBI Assistant/Grade B): allow distance education degrees from UGC‑recognized universities.
Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) exams, most State PSCs, and CTET / State TET (for which B.Ed must be NCTE‑recognised in distance mode) also accept valid distance degrees.
If it’s a professional or technical course (e.g., B.Ed, B.Tech), it must also be approved by the relevant regulator—e.g., NCTE for B.Ed, AICTE for MCA.

Summary Table

Criteria	Status for Open/DL Degrees
Central/UPSC Exams	Accepted if from UGC‑DEB approved
SSC, Bank, RRB Exams	Accepted if the university is recognized
State PSC Exams	Generally accepted—check specific state criteria
Professional Courses (e.g., B.Ed)	Must be UGC + NCTE / AICTE approved

Final Takeaway

→ Yes, you can apply for government exams (UPSC, SSC, Bank, RRB, PSC, TET, etc.) with a distance/open university degree, including from IGNOU.
→ But it must be from a UGC-DEB-approved university, and if applicable, also meet regulatory approval (like NCTE for B.Ed).
→ Always verify the official exam notification for eligibility before applying.

Let’s find out

Which university’s degree do you have?
Which Sarkari exam are you looking to prepare for?