e-Post Graduate Diploma (ePGD) in Digital Governance

FAQs

• What is the refund policy?

  The course wise fee refund policy is as follows:

  Fee Type	Before Course Fee Payment Deadline	After Course Fee Payment Deadline and Before Commencement of Classes	After Commencement of Classes
  Registration Fees	100% Refund	70% Refund	No Refund
  Course Fees	100% Refund	70% Refund	No Refund

  The refund amount for all refund requests (partial or full) will be calculated after deducting a processing fee of 1% of the total amount paid.

• Is e-Postgraduate Diploma equivalent to Regular Postgraduate Diploma?

  The ePostgraduate Diploma is equivalent to a regular Postgraduate Diploma (PGD). Graduates of the ePGD will receive IIT Bombay alumni status and all associated benefits. The diploma is recognized at par with any other IIT Bombay degree, with the only difference being the online mode of delivery.

• Is e-Postgraduate Diploma UGC approved?

  IIT Bombay is an autonomous institute and the programs offered by IIT Bombay don’t need UGC approval. The ePostgraduate Diploma is equivalent to a regular Postgraduate Diploma (PGD). Graduates of the ePGD will receive IIT Bombay alumni status and all associated benefits. The diploma is recognized at par with any other IIT Bombay degree, with the only difference being the online mode of delivery.

• What is the retake criteria?

  1. Learners who fail one course out of the six-course basket in the ePGD will be allowed to retake the course by paying a nominal fee equivalent to 20% of the course fee. Upon passing the retake, they will still be eligible to receive the ePGD.
  2. Learners who fail more than one course may also retake the failed courses by paying 20% of the course fee per course. However, in this case, they will no longer be eligible to receive the ePGD, even if they pass the reattempts. They will, however, continue to receive IIT Bombay credits for the courses they have
  passed, which can be saved in the Academic Bank of Credits (ABC). The number of re-attempts per course is limited to 1 only.
  3. For course retakes, learners will be required to undertake the full course and examination again. Learners are encouraged to take full attendance for the courses.
  4. As per Senate the minimum passing criterion remains unchanged—a minimum of 40% in the end-semester examination is required to pass. Any other criteria for overall assessment maybe decided by the department offering the ePGD.
  5. As mandated by the senate, the end term examination must carry a 50% weightage of the total marks breakup
  6. After successful completion of the exam for each course, the EO office will issue certificates:

  •  Completion certificates with credits, or
  • Participation certificates, based on performance.

  7. The final Post Graduate Diploma (ePGD) will be awarded by IIT Bombay.

• Is e-Postgraduate Diploma WES approved?

  All IIT Bombay degrees and diplomas are verified by WES.

• Will the end term exams for all courses be conducted at IIT Bombay?

  Yes, it is mandatory for the candidates to visit the IIT Bombay campus for in-person end term exams for all courses. During the visit, the candidates will also get an opportunity to interact with faculty. 

  There will be no additional fees for the exams, however, the candidates will have to bear all the other expenses related to the visit (travel, food, lodging and so on). candidates can also choose to stay on IIT Bombay campus, subject to availability of the rooms and other facilities.

  Students will be charged for these facilities as per the institute guidelines. The Educational Outreach Office at IIT Bombay will coordinate with the candidates for the campus visit and end course exams. 

  Students not visiting IIT Bombay campus to attend end term exams will not be able to pass the respective courses, even if they have scored the passing marks through other evaluated components (assignments, quizzes, online exams etc.). There will be no re-exam for candidates who fail to attend the on-campus exams. 

  Other than end term exams, all assessments, quizzes, exams during the course will be conducted online.

• What are the roles and responsibilities of IIT Bombay and Simplilearn?

  • IIT Bombay will manage end to end academic delivery of all the courses. All live sessions are conducted exclusively by IIT Bombay faculty members.
  • Simplilearn is the edtech partner for e-Postgraduate Diploma and is responsible for candidate registration, program management, online learning management platform and non-academic support to candidates.

• Will candidates receive any unique ID number (such as IIT Bombay email id, roll no etc.)?

  Candidates will be assigned a unique identification number upon submitting their APAAR number. This unique ID number will be used for identification throughout the ePGD. They will not receive an IIT Bombay email ID.

• Will IIT Bombay issue physical ID cards? What facilities can be accessed using these ID cards?

  Candidates will be issued a physical identity (ID) card by the Educational Outreach office during their campus visit for the end term exams. These ID cards will allow the candidates to access IIT Bombay library facilities during on-campus end term exam periods.
  Other than the designated campus visit days, the candidates will not have access to IIT Bombay campus or library during the rest of the course. The ePGD certificate, upon fulfillment of e-Postgraduate Diploma requirements, will officially grant candidates IIT Bombay Alumni status. Once an IIT Bombay Alumni, candidates will have access to IIT Bombay campus using the alumni ID card.

• Will IIT Bombay provide a roll number?

  No. A roll number will not be provided by IIT Bombay.

• Can “Overseas Citizen of India” who have completed higher education in India apply for ePGD?

  Yes, “Overseas Citizen of India” can apply for e-Postgraduate Diploma as long as they have completed their higher education in India, are ready to comply with all e-Postgraduate Diploma requirements and can visit IIT Bombay campus for in-person exams and other mandatory course requirements, if any. If needed, EO can provide an NOC for the visa process, if needed.

• Can candidates who have received their higher education institutes outside India apply for ePGD?

  Yes, they can apply as long as the institute is recognised by IIT Bombay. For any such candidate, a query can be raised with the Educational Outreach office to verify the recognition status of the institute. Based on the response, the candidate can be advised to proceed with the application process.

• What is the onboarding process for the Executive PG Diploma from IIT-Bombay?

  The candidates are required to complete the onboarding process before e-Postgraduate Diploma orientation. To complete the onboarding process, candidates will need to submit the following documents / details before the beginning of the session:
  ● Class X Marksheet
  ● Class XII Marksheet
  ● Graduation / Post Graduation Degree (with final score / percentage) +
  Marksheet (if degree doesn't mention the score)
  ● Aadhar Card
  ● Passport Size Photo
  ● An undertaking covering work experience details and references
  ● Successful registration on Academic Bank of Credit and APAAR number generated as a part of this  registration

  Once all documents are submitted, candidates will be officially registered for the course and will be provided a unique registration number (EOEPGD/AI-DS/001/XY) by the Educational Outreach office.

• Will IIT Bombay offer Transcripts and Certificates?

  IIT Bombay will issue individual course certificates and transcripts upon the successful completion of each course and its associated exam.

• Will the candidates receive individual course certificates for the completed courses?

  The candidates can request individual course certificates for all the courses they have completed successfully under the ePGD curriculum. These individual certificates will be issued by the Office of Educational Outreach at IIT Bombay and will reflect completion status and the credits earned by a candidate.

• What certificate will the candidates get after completing e-Postgraduate Diploma? Will there be a graduation ceremony?

  An e-Postgraduate Diploma from IIT Bombay will be offered to candidates upon successful completion of all the ePGD requirements. An in-person graduation ceremony will be held at the IIT Bombay campus.

• How does the credit system work? How are credits stored in ABC? How can credits be transferred towards further higher education?

  Credit Requirements:
  This e-Postgraduate Diploma requires candidates to successfully complete 36 IIT Bombay credits through a mix of core courses and electives. Every course will have its own set of exams and requirements, which must be fulfilled to successfully complete the course. Upon successfully completing a course, the candidates will receive a Certificate of Completion with the number of credits earned respectively.

  Saving Credits in Academic Bank of Credits (ABC):
  Candidates will need to create an APAAR ID and an account on Academic Bank of Credits (ABC). The credits earned from individual courses will be stored in their individual Academic Bank of Credits (ABC) account.
  
  Using Credits Stored in Academic Bank of Credits (ABC):
  Credits stored in the candidate’s ABC account can only be utilised once for any one degree or equivalent program. Upon successful completion of all 36 IIT Bombay credits, the candidate will have the following options:
  
   

  ● Option 1: Apply for the ePGD Certificate from IIT Bombay. In this case, all 36 credits will be utilized and the candidate will be granted IIT Bombay Alumni status. There is no additional cost for applying for the ePGD certificate. Once utilised for ePGD certificate, these credits can’t be used for any other higher degree program.
  
  ● Option 2: Not apply for the ePGD certificate and retain credits for higher education programs. The candidate will not be recognized as an IIT Bombay alumnus. The credits earned will remain in the candidate’s ABC account and can be used to pursue higher degrees in the future.

  Credit Transfer to Higher Degrees
  ○ If a candidate wishes to pursue higher degree programs (e.g., Master’s or Ph.D.), the credits earned from the courses can be utilised towards the same. This credit transfer can help reduce the academic requirements for the higher degree program, thereby reducing the overall duration required to complete the higher degree program.
  
  ○ The number of credits to be utilised / transferred towards the higher degree program and their utilisation are subject to the policies of the respective academic unit or department offering higher degree programs. This credit transfer can also be applied to the higher degree programs offered by institutes other than IIT Bombay, as long as the credit transfer is compliant with the guidelines of Academic Bank of Credits (ABC). Refer to ABC policies for guidance on transferring credits from the ABC account to institutes offering higher degree programs.
  
  ○ The credit transfer will not have any bearing on the admission process for the higher degree program. Candidates will need to go through the regular admission process for the program. Once admitted into the higher degree program, these credits may be used to reduce the academic requirements and therefore the
  overall duration to complete the higher degree program.

• Do candidates receive career support or job placement assistance from IIT Bombay?

  • Successful ePGD graduates will gain membership in a Google group dedicated to lateral hiring opportunities, managed by the IIT Bombay Placement Cell.

  • Job postings and opportunities are shared in this group, but individuals are responsible for connecting with organizations independently and managing the job application process. IIT Bombay will not be responsible for the outcome of the job application process. 

  • Campus placement opportunities are NOT provided for ePGD participants.

• What is the evaluation process in e-Postgraduate Diploma?

  The evaluation process includes online assessments, quizzes, projects, exams and other components throughout the course. The weightage of each component may vary from course to course. At the end of each course, candidates will take in-person exams on the IIT Bombay campus. 

• Will candidates get access to the IIT Bombay Online Library ?

  No, ePGD candidates will not have access to the IIT Bombay online library resources.

• What are the IIT Bombay Alumni Benefits?

  All ePGD graduates will get IIT Bombay alumni status along with the following benefits:

  • Identity

    • Become a proud alumnus of IIT Bombay for life!

    • Apply for IITBAA Life Membership to receive your Alumni Card, offering seamless campus entry.

  • Exclusive Email Address

    • Avail a lifelong email address (yourname@iitbombay.org) on the Gmail suite with 30 GB of free inbox space.

    • Enhance your professional identity with a personalized IIT Bombay alumni email.

  • Networking Opportunities

    • Connect with the immense and impactful IIT Bombay Alumni community.

    • Build professional relationships, share knowledge, and receive career advice and support.

  • Alumni Groups

    • Join multiple alumni groups, including over 40+ Special Interest Groups on Telegram.

    • Network geographically through chapters or engage in focused groups based on shared interests.

  • Institute Discounts

    • Relive your campus memories with special discounts on the swimming pool, sports amenities, and library access.

  • Career Services

    • Access career opportunities within the IIT Bombay alumni network.

    • Recruit easily from the IIT Bombay community via job postings on the website and newsletters.

  • Volunteer Opportunities

    • Participate in impactful projects like the Financial Aid Program, Benevolent Program, Rural Initiative Program, and chapter activities.

    • Enrich your profile while contributing to the alumni community.

  • Mentorship Opportunities

    • Mentor current students in career choices, higher education, campus life, entrepreneurship, and industry insights.

    • Engage with students through IITBAA to make a meaningful impact.

  • Stay Connected with the Institute

    • Stay updated on the latest campus developments and initiatives.

    • Be a part of IIT Bombay’s pioneering research and development initiatives.

• Are the live session timings fixed?

  No. Interactive sessions and tutorials will be mutually decided between the professors/TA’s and the learners, in case other time slots are found convenient to them.

• What is the passing criteria for each course?

  • A minimum of 40% in the end-semester exam is mandatory.
  • End-semester exam carries 50% weightage of total marks.
  • Departments may decide additional criteria for overall assessment.

• Do I need to attend the full course again for a retake?

  Yes, retakes require you to attend the full course and reattempt the exam.

• What certificates will I receive?

  • Completion Certificate with credits – if you successfully pass the course.
  • Participation Certificate – if you do not meet passing criteria.
  • The final ePGD will be awarded by IIT Bombay (only if all criteria are met).

• Will I still get any recognition if I fail more than one course?

  You will still receive IIT Bombay credits for all courses you pass. These credits can be stored in the Academic Bank of Credits (ABC) for future use.

• What is the course deferral policy?

  Candidates may apply to defer a course within the first two weeks from the start of academic delivery. Deferral requests submitted after this period will not be accepted. Applications may need to be supported with relevant documentation and are subject to approval by the concerned academic unit.

• How is a course deferral approved and what is the fee?

  All deferral applications are reviewed by the concerned academic unit, and approval is granted only if the application is accepted. Upon approval, candidates must pay a deferral fee of INR 2,000 per course to complete the deferral process.

• How does course deferral affect program completion?

  This e-Postgraduate Diploma requires candidates to complete 36 IIT Bombay credits through mandatory and elective courses. All credits must be completed within a maximum duration of 36 months, including any gaps or delays resulting from course deferrals.

• What is the university's policy regarding course absence?

  1. Absence Due to Personal Medical Emergency
  If a participant is unable to appear for the exam due to a personal medical emergency:
  
  • The participant must submit valid medical documents to IIT Bombay.
  • The documents will be verified by the IIT Bombay Hospital team for authenticity.
  • Upon successful verification, the participant may be allowed one of the following options:

  • Re-exam, if the department is willing to conduct a special re-exam before the next semester stars, or
  • Re-course + re-exam with the next batch as per existing ePGD policies without payment of re-course fees.

  Note: This provision is applicable only in cases of personal medical emergencies.

  2. Absence Due to Special Circumstances (Non-Medical)
  In cases such as national-level events, unexpected family emergencies, or other exceptional situations:
  
  • The participant must email the Dean EO, with the concerned EO Programme Manager in CC, explaining the reason for absence.
  • Approval/rejection will be at the discretion of the Dean EO.

  If approved:

  • Re-exam, if the department is willing to conduct a special re-exam before the next semester starts, or
  • Re-course + re-exam with the next batch as per existing ePGD policies without payment of re-course fees.

  If not approved:
  
  • The participant must pay the applicable 20% re-course fee and repeat the course and examination as per the standard policy.

  3. Absence Due to Professional/Work Commitments
  For professional emergencies (whether informed before or after the exam):

  • The participant will be required to repeat the course with payment of the 20% re-course fee, as per existing policy.

  Applicability
  
  These rules apply specifically to participants who have completed the course requirements but are unable to appear for the semester-end examinations.

• What are the session timings for the Course?

  The sessions will be conducted on weekends (Saturdays or Sundays). Possible session timings depending on the faculty availability are: 10:00 AM – 01:00 PM and 02:00 PM – 05:00 PM.
  The final session timing will be confirmed closer to the programme start date, based on faculty availability.