Indira Gandhi National Open University

Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), established by an Act of Parliament in 1985, has continuously striven to build an inclusive knowledge society through inclusive education. It has tried to increase the Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) by offering high-quality teaching through the Open and Distance Learning (ODL) mode.

The University began by offering two academic programmes in 1987, namely Diploma in Management and Diploma in Distance Education, with a strength of 4,528 students. Over the years, it has grown to be the largest open university in the world.

Today, IGNOU serves the educational aspirations of over 3 million students in India and abroad with the help of 21 Schools of Studies, a network of 69 Regional Centres, around 2,000 Learner Support Centres and 25 overseas Study Centres spread across 15 countries. The University offers about 333 Programmes of Study and employs about 800 academic staff and 1,700 administrative staff.

Objectives of IGNOU

• Providing access to higher education to all segments of society
• Offering high-quality innovative programmes at affordable costs
• Reaching out to the disadvantaged by offering programmes in relevant areas
• Encouraging, coordinating and setting standards for Open and Distance Learning in India
• Strengthening the human resources of the nation through education