The post of full time Director was created in the grade of Professor. Consequent upon the upgradation, the jurisdiction of the Directorate of Distance Education was extended. Any Indian citizen residing in India is permitted to register for the available courses with the Directorate. Since the U.G.C. had been , time and again , recommending that the CCIs be upgraded and be allowed to enjoy certain amount of autonomy and flexibility in its functioning, in the year 1993, the Directorate of Distance Education was upgraded as Institute of Distance Education ' It thus acquired a status as a University Institution.