The Directorate of Distance Education in Lalit Narayan Mithila University was created in the year 1998 vide University letter no. P/D 54-139/98 dated 7/2/1998. The Directorate is responsible for offering programmes/courses through the distance mode. Since inception, it has been taking various initiatives to the spread of distance education. At present nearly 30% students of higher education in LNMU are enrolled in the ODL system of DDE.

Dr. Harendra Singh, then Controller of examinations, L.N.M.U Darbhanga was the first Director in-charge of the Directorate of Distance Education. The task assigned to him was to formulate and prepare the proposal for starting Distance Education from session 1998-99, in consultation with the Advisory Committee which was duly constituted by the University.