UGC Calls for Faculty Proposals to Develop MOOC on PM Gati Shakti – Deets Inside!

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has invited proposals from eligible faculty members to develop a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) based on the title “Introduction to PM Gati Shakti,” on SAWAYM – National Learning Platform. PhD holders with teaching experience in Indian Universities and Institutions can submit their proposal before or on 4 January 2026.

The purpose is to align higher-education curricula with one of India’s flagship infrastructure and logistics-planning initiatives - enabling students to understand, analyze, and engage with real-world national projects online.

What is the PM Gati Shakti Initiative?

PM Gati Shakti was launched in 2021 as India’s “National Master Plan for Multi-Modal Connectivity.” The focus is to optimise supply chains, reduce logistic costs, and enhance inter-ministerial coordination. It integrates infrastructure development by synchronising railways, roads, ports, airports, logistics parks, and other transport and utility sectors.

In 2025, it was opened for private firms and consultants to leverage the platform for infrastructure planning, logistics optimisation, and investment decisions. A MOOC on PM Gati Shakti can serve exactly that objective, bridging the gap between policy/infrastructure planning and academic understanding.

Eligibility Criteria for Faculty Developers

• Those who have a Ph.D. in a relevant subject, along with at least 5 years of teaching experience in a recognized Indian university or educational institute, are eligible to submit the proposal.
• They should have a consent letter from their home institution permitting them to offer the course on SAWAYM, under UGC2021 online learning regulations.
• The institution they are working with must be among those ranked in the top 100 in any category of the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) 2025 list.

Course Content and Scope

The MOOC should be submitted around four major themes:

• Introduction to PM Gati Shakti – It should have a frontend and a backend structure, along with resources and a platform overview.
• Utility of PM Gati Shakti – It includes real-world case studies and field applications.
• Cost Reduction – The proposal should have a precise view of cost reduction options in logistics and supply chain management, and outcomes.
• Inter-ministerial coordination - The role of multiple ministries under the Gati Shakti framework and how coordinated planning works.

Learning Material & Delivery Format

As per the guidelines, the course carries 4 credits — two credits for theoretical content and two credits for practical components (industry training, internship or case studies). It is intended for both undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) learners. Additionally, the course must be developed in line with the National Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020), the National Credit Framework (NCrF), and UGC’s own guidelines for online learning.

The course module should include PPTs, e-texts, case studies, assignments, research references, videos, and discussion forum activities, along with 1-2-minute summary videos every week. A 5–7-minute course-introduction video is mandatory. Audio-visual content should be 25–30 minutes per module, broken into 6–8-minute segments; faculty on-screen presence should not exceed 25% of total video duration.

The UGC’s initiative to launch a MOOC on PM Gati Shakti reflects an important and encouraging shift - bringing national-level infrastructure policy into mainstream higher education.