List of Top Free Online Courses In 2024 with Certificates In India

Online courses are available for students and learners to pursue from anywhere across the world and various learning platforms also provide students with courses to pursue free of cost. Free online courses are a very good option available at the disposal of all students to enhance their knowledge and skills. Here we have broken down the basics and details of online learning courses along with some of the top curated free online learning courses with certificates in India. 

What is an Online Course?

An online course is an educational course that allows students to get access to learning materials from any remote location through the use of an electronic device and an internet connection. An online course can be offered either by an online learning platform or independently by an online university as well. Many educational institutions and experienced academicians and professionals are now offering courses in their area of specialization in the online format. 

The common tools and facilities that are used for online education include: 

• Live Virtual Audio-Video Sessions for Lectures
• Recorded Lectures Available for Access at Any Time
• Digital Learning Content- PDFs, e-Books, PPT Presentations, Open Access Articles etc. 
• Discussion Sessions with Peers and Course Tutors for Doubt Clarifications etc. 
• Online Assignments, Tests, Quizzes etc. 
• Online Examinations (Proctored)

Like regular education, online courses can also be offered at different levels of education. With the growth of students having easy access to the learner, online courses are the rage now. They are not only easy and convenient to access but also very useful for simultaneous skill development and knowledge enhancement.

Also Read | List of Professional Courses After Graduation

So students start early out in seeking various online courses that will enable them to develop their skills and competencies in various areas further. On the basis of this, online courses are provided to students at the following levels:

1. Basic Online Courses for Elementary School and Middle School Students  
2. Online Courses to Pursue After Class 10th
3. Online Courses to Pursue After Class 12th (Graduate Level Course)
4. Online Courses to Pursue After Graduation (PG Level)
5. Online Courses for Working Professionals 

Online courses are of various types, ranging from basic courses of a few hours for gaining a preliminary idea to full-fledged degree and diploma courses available to pursue.

The common types of online courses that students can access include: 

• Online Courses Without Any Certification
• Online Courses with Certifications
• Online Diploma
• Online Degree Courses

Some courses may be offered to students free of cost while others can be paid for. In some cases, the online platforms may provide the course for free but may charge them an amount for obtaining a certification. But in either case, courses in the online format are offered at comparatively much lower rates than regular courses or offline courses, making them a lot more affordable for a larger number of students. 

Also Read | Education System In India Explained

Best Online Learning Platforms In 2024 for Free Online Courses with Certificates In India 

A large number of online learning platforms offer MOOCs, i.e. Massive Open Online Courses to students, which can be accessed by anyone from across the globe at any hour of the day.

These courses are offered in a diverse range of subjects and domains, ranging from sciences, and management to lifestyle and personal development.

Some of the top online learning platforms today have been listed below:

Top Online Learning Platforms In 2024 Giving MOOCs
Coursera	Swayam Portal (Government of India)
edX Learning	Udemy
Udacity	Masterclass
Google.Grow	LinkedIn Learning
Skillshare	Unacademy

From these online learning platforms, students can choose a large number of courses ranging from free courses of a few minutes, and free certification courses to online degrees and diplomas. Some courses are unpaid and have open access, while some platforms such as Masterclass may require you to pay a subscription fee. 

Best Free Online Courses of 2024 In India 

Here, we have curated a list of the best online courses (Government & Private) available through open access and provided free of cost to students. However, it is important to remember that some of these courses may charge a nominal fee amount from you in case you want to obtain a certificate after course completion. In most cases, the course materials are open source, while a credential of completion requires a fee amount. 

If you are a student in high school, completed school education or graduation, or a working professional, there are online courses for you to upskill yourself. 

So, find below a list of the most popular and relevant free online courses for various levels of education. 

Free Online Courses After Class 10th

After completing matriculation, students often seek to start developing themselves in specific subject areas so as to be better prepared for their further education.

Accordingly, there are various beginner-level courses that can be taken up by students free of cost along with certifications upon course completion. 

Find some of the top online learning courses that you can take up after class 10th:

Free Online Courses After Class 10th
Course Name	Paid or Free	Online Platform	Certificate of Completion
Data Science in e-Commerce	Free (Access to Complete Course Content)	upGrad	Provided
Python For Everybody Specialization	Free (Access to Complete Course Content)	Coursera	Provided (Paid for Certification)
Problem Solving, Python Programming and Video Games	Free (Access to Complete Course Content)	Coursera	Provided (Paid for Certification)
Understanding Research Methods	Free (Access to Complete Course Content)	Coursera	Provided (Paid for Certification)
Science of Well-Being	Free (Access to Complete Course Content)	Coursera	Provided (Paid for Certificate)

Free Online Courses After Class 12th

There are a number of courses that students can take up after completion of their school education so as to enhance their knowledge and hone their skills further before or during graduation.

Some of these courses are free to access but require the student to pay a fee to obtain a certificate after course completion. Find the list of some of the most popular free online courses after 12th with certificates here:

Free Online Courses After Class 12th Science
Course Name	Paid or Free	Online Platform	Certificate of Completion
CS50’s Introduction to Computer Science	Free (Access to Complete Course Content)	edX Learning	Provided (Paid for Certificate)
Python For Everybody Specialization	Free (Access to Complete Course Content)	Coursera	Provided (Paid for Certification)
Stanford Introduction to Food and Health	Free (Access to Complete Course Content)	Coursera	Provided (Paid for Certification)
Machine Learning	Free (Access to Complete Course Content)	Coursera	Provided (Paid for Certification)
Cybersecurity for Everyone	Free (Access to Complete Course Content)	Coursera	Provided (Paid for Certificate)

Here are a few free online courses you can pursue in arts and humanities after Class 12th:

Free Online Courses After Class 12th Humanities
Course Name	Paid or Free	Online Platform	Certificate of Completion
Modern Masterpieces of World Literature	Free (Access to Complete Course Content)	edX Learning	Provided (Paid for Certificate)
Creative Writing Specialization	Free (Access to Complete Course Content)	Coursera	Provided (Paid for Certification)
Philosophy and Critical Thinking	Free (Access to Complete Course Content)	Coursera	Provided (Paid for Certification)
English for Career Development	Free (Access to Complete Course Content)	Coursera	Provided (Paid for Certification)
Social Psychology	Free (Access to Complete Course Content)	Coursera	Provided (Paid for Certificate)

Given here are some free online courses related to the field of commerce and management that can be taken up by students after class 12th

Free Online Courses After Class 12th Commerce and Management
Course Name	Paid or Free	Online Platform	Certificate of Completion
Fundamentals of Market Structure	Free (Access to Complete Course Content)	edX Learning	Provided (Paid for Certificate)
Google Digital Marketing and e-Commerce	Free (Access to Complete Course Content)	Coursera, Google	Provided (Paid for Certification)
Business Foundations	Free (Access to Complete Course Content)	edX Learning	Provided (Paid for Certification)
Digital Marketing	Free (Access to Complete Course Content)	Google Digital Garage	Provided
Financial Markets	Free (Access to Complete Course Content)	Coursera	Provided (Paid for Certificate)

All the best free online courses mentioned above are beginner and intermediate level courses that allow students even without prerequisite knowledge about the subject to pursue the courses.

As can be seen, the courses are completely free of cost, however, if you want a certification for course completion, a fee amount needs to be paid and you need to appear for basic tests or graded assignments. Also Read | List of Computer Courses After 12th

Free Online Courses of 2024 to Pursue After Graduation In India

In a world that is constantly evolving, it is of utmost importance for students to stay up to date about the latest developments and new technologies in a domain. As a result, many students after graduation take up some specific courses, whether professional or academic, to upskill themselves or grow their domain of interest and knowledge.

Online courses are a great initiative in this direction as there are many free courses accessible to everyone. A student can additionally obtain a certificate or credential for completion of the course, which may involve a nominal fee charged by the platform. 

Some of the top free online courses with certifications offered by various online learning platforms have been listed here:

Free Online Courses After Graduation
Course Name	Paid or Free	Online Platform	Certificate of Completion
Computer Science: Algorithms, Theory and Machines	Free (Access to Complete Course Content)	Coursera	Provided (Paid for Certificate)
Advanced Neurobiology	Free (Access to Complete Course Content)	Coursera, Google	Provided (Paid for Certification)
Machine Learning with Python	Free (Access to Complete Course Content)	Coursera	Provided (Paid for Certification)
Digital Marketing	Free (Access to Complete Course Content)	Google Digital Garage	Provided
Data Science Professional Certificate	Free (Access to Complete Course Content)	Coursera	Provided (Paid for Certificate)
People Management	Free (Access to Complete Course Content)	edX Learning	Provided (Paid for Certificate)
Data Science Specialization	Free (Access to Complete Course Content)	Coursera	Provided (Paid for Certificate)
Globalization: Past and Future	Free (Access to Complete Course Content)	edX Learning	Provided (Paid for Certificate)
Digital Marketing Strategy	Free (Access to Complete Course Content)	edX Learning	Provided (Paid for Certificate)
Corporate Finance	Free (Access to Complete Course Content)	Swayam Portal (Goverment of India)	Provided (Paid for Certificate)
Human Resource Development	Free (Access to Complete Course Content)	Swayam Portal	Provided (Paid for Certificate)

The best free online courses after graduation listed above are of intermediate to advanced difficulty and can be pursued by individuals who have graduated and have some prior preliminary knowledge in the domain they choose to pursue. The official websites of the platforms offering the courses have further information about the minimum prerequisite knowledge students must have to follow the course. 

Also Read | Online Data Science Courses with Placement

Free Online Courses for Working Professionals

Working professionals today need to keep themselves for advancements in their field all the time. With such constant changes, the need for upskilling and knowledge growth is imperative. For this, many professionals today take up online courses with certificates or other credentials in order to expand their professional skills and domains of expertise.

The common MOOC platforms provide a large number of courses for working individuals to pursue while continuing to work easily. 

Here are our top few picks for you: 

Free Online Courses for Working Professionals
Course Name	Paid or Free	Online Platform	Certificate of Completion
Google Data Analytics	Free (Access to Complete Course Content)	Coursera, Google	Provided (Paid for Certificate)
IBM Data Science Professional Certificate	Free (Access to Complete Course Content)	Coursera	Provided (Paid for Certification)
Google Project Management	Free (Access to Complete Course Content)	Coursera, Google	Provided (Paid for Certification)
Organizational Design: Know Your Organization	Free (Access to Complete Course Content)	Google Digital Garage	Provided
IBM Machine Learning Professional Certificate	Free (Access to Complete Course Content)	Coursera	Provided (Paid for Certificate)
Microsoft Service Adoption Specialist	Free (Access to Complete Course Content)	edX Learning	Provided (Paid for Certificate)
Meta Social Media Marketing	Free (Access to Complete Course Content)	Coursera, Meta	Provided (Paid for Certificate)
Introduction to BlockChain	Free (Access to Complete Course Content)	edX Learning	Provided (Paid for Certificate)
Corporate Entrepreneurship	Free (Access to Complete Course Content)	edX Learning	Provided (Paid for Certificate)
Business and Technology	Free (Access to Complete Course Content)	edX Learning	Provided (Paid for Certificate)

 With such free online courses and certification programmes, a working professional can effectively explore a new career domain as well as get a good hike in their salary and professional value. This is because by adding new skills and abilities to your skill set, you become better equipped and groomed than your contemporaries. 

What is the Credibility of a Free Online Course?

An important question that arises in a discussion on online education is whether a free online course is even valid and credible for obtaining education or training in a domain.

The answer to this question lies majorly on the source from where the course is being pursued. If you are pursuing an online course from a credible source, such as a well-known online learning platform, an accredited institute or online university, a credible faculty or working professional etc., then yes, the course is credible. 

What adds to the credibility of a course is a credential of successful completion, such as a certificate, a diploma or a degree depending upon the type of course chosen. In some cases, online universities may also offer a Credential of Readiness (CORe) to a student when they complete multiple online courses simultaneously. 

Such a credential is shareable and can be cited in your educational profile and resumé for professional purposes.  However, even in the case of an online course without a certificate or credential, if the programme has indeed helped you gain considerable skills or explore a domain comprehensively, you can mention it in your strength and skill areas. 

With innovative technology measures and newer software that mimic physical learning, the credibility and value of online courses are increasing by the day and they are now valued at par with similar regular courses. 

What is the Value of an Online Course? 

Many students are turning to online educational means, especially in the times of the recent worldwide pandemic when online courses ensured that education was unhampered and not disrupted. 

But many students and working professionals are still wary of investing their time and resources in an online course as they are confused about the actual value of an online degree. 

While it is impossible to completely replicate the face-to-face offline learning environment, online courses with newer technologies have bridged the gap to a large extent. 

Online courses are of equal value if not more, provided they have been obtained from a credible source. 

Moreover, for professional ventures, short-term courses or certification courses, online courses are valued if they contribute meaningfully to the skill development of the person. 

So, we can say that yes, online courses also have great value today in the domain of education and skill development for students as well as professionals. 

Pros and Cons of Online Courses In India

There are a number of factors that gravitate to students while there are many others which make students wary of going for an online course.  Here we have listed the major pros and cons of online courses, which can help you form a balanced opinion about whether it is the right educational step for you. 

Major Pros of Online Courses

• Flexibility of Learning: one of the primary reasons to choose an online course over a regular course is that the flexibility offered in learning virtually is enormous as compared to a regular course, which has rigid class schedules, timings, deadlines and the like. An online course is able to overcome this limitation through availability of learning materials 24 hours round the clock. 
• Self-Paced Learning: Online courses allow the students to pursue the courses, lectures and learn at their own pace. Self-paced learning enables a variety of students and interested candidates to actually take up and follow through the courses.
• Affordability of Courses: another important factor, online courses are a lot more affordable to pursue as compared to similar offline courses. Some online courses also offer scholarships and financial aids for easy payment of the full course fee. Online courses are thus considerably more pocket-friendly for students. 
• Large Variety of Choices: while choosing an online course, the students get the benefit of not only choosing the course from a large variety of subjects and areas but also choosing their desired college, university or faculty. Online learning platforms help to connect students to some of the world’s best faculties and experts, irrespective of geographical boundaries. For instance, students can also choose courses taught by faculties from renowned Ivy League colleges sitting at their homes. 

Also Read | What Is Learning Management System

Major Cons of Online Course

• Lacks Face-to-Face Interaction: one of the main drawbacks of an online course is the fact that face-to-face interaction and communication, whether with the course tutors or with peers, is not possible in most cases. This is especially true in the case of short-term courses that are completed over a period of a few weeks or months. As a result, students cannot gain insights that are obtained from discussions and dialogue in a conventional classroom setting. 
• Not Suitable for Practical Courses: certain subject areas which involve rigorous practical exposure and training may not be suitable to be taught in the online mode despite the availability of simulation and virtual laboratories today. This is because although such tools replicate the real-life environment, they can’t be relied on when the course involves high safety concerns such as aviation training, medicine, engineering etc. So, although the theoretical aspects of these courses may be delivered through virtual means, the full courses in such subjects cannot be taught online. 
• Not Suitable for All Students: Although online courses have increased accessibility of education to a larger number of students, the target audience of such courses may be limited to certain specific groups. Since full comprehension through an online course requires the students to have access to electronic devices, internet services, as well as basic knowledge of using technological tools and devices. so, online courses are not suitable for younger students or those who aren’t well-acquainted with technology or lack access to the required resources, as might be the case with many students. 
• Restricted Professional Network: the lowered peer and faculty interactions during the course completion may pose a hindrance to forming a wide professional network for a student, especially if they are pursuing a professional course. This may affect the scope for professional growth for the student. Many online platforms and universities offer students with placement services and conduct job fairs to overcome this limitation. 

Job Value of an Online Course In India 

According to the latest national educational guidelines by bodies such as UGC, no professional or academic organization can discriminate against an online course completed by a student provided it has been obtained from an accredited and authorized educational institution. 

So, if you have completed an online course from a reputed and credible organization or online learning platform, then your course certificate/ diploma/ degree will definitely add good value to your professional profile and credibility. It may also be helpful for you to explore a new career domain or move up the professional ladder in your already established career. 

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Even in the case of an online course that you completed without certification if the course has contributed significantly to your skill set or knowledge, it surely makes you better groomed and well-equipped for any professional venture. 

So, online courses also have considerable job value as they are equally valid as an offline course (provided the source of education is valid and credible).  A student can benefit much from the knowledge gained through online courses available across a large number of platforms today. 

Conclusion 

From the detailed blog above, it can be seen that students today can easily access a large number of free online courses that will allow them to explore any area of their interest, with effective tutoring from industry experts and faculty from renowned colleges and universities. These courses also provide shareable certificates to students which can be cited in their educational profiles, professional social media such as LinkedIn, and resumes.