Headquartered at New Delhi, Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) is ranked as the world's largest university. Established through an Act of the Parliament of India, IGNOU has been set up for providing quality higher education in various disciplines through distance learning. It mainly caters to the needs of students residing in remote areas or those with financial constraints or the working professionals aspiring for additional qualification. IGNOU has varied profiles, spread across the length and breadth of the country, managed by efficient and effective networking of an array of Regional Centres, Sub-Regional Centres and more than 1000 Study Centres all over India.
Educational Streams
IGNOU offers educational programmes that are considered at par with the education provided by any other recognized institute of the country. The University offers a wide range of courses in emerging professions and vocational fields. It covers almost all the levels of formal education including certificate, PG certificate, diploma, PG diploma, advanced diploma, Bachelor's, Master's and Doctoral programs. IGNOU has also established an International Cell responsible for the enrollment of foreign students. The University has been recognized as a Centre of Excellence by the Commonwealth of Learning for promoting and maintaining the standards of distance education in and around the country.
IGNOU has adopted a multimedia approach as a method of instruction. Self-instructional materials, counseling sessions, both face-to-face and teleconferencing mode are the various components of instruction. It has made arrangements to enable students undertake practical classes at selected study centres for imparting practical classes in Science, Computers, Nursing as well as Engineering and Technology. The University has adopted a two-tier evaluation system that consists of term-end examinations and continuous evaluation through tutor-marked / computer-marked assignments, practical assignments and project work.
History
Established in the year 1985, Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) has been named after the ex-Prime Minister of India, Late Smt Indira Gandhi. The University was established with the prime objective of democratizing higher education by promoting Open University and distance education system in the country. IGNOU emphasizes on standardizing the teaching, evaluation and research system and the allocation of grants to various distance education institutions in the country.
Faculties/Departments:
- Humanities
- Journalism and New Media Studies
- School of Social Sciences
- Gender and Development Studies
- Sciences
- Tourism Hospitality Service
- Sectoral Management
- Education
- Interdisciplinary and Trans-disciplinary Studies
- Continuing Education
- Social Work
- Engineering & Technology
- Vocational Education and Training
- Management Studies
- Extension and Development Studies
- Health Sciences
- Foreign Languages
- Computer & Information Sciences
- Translation Studies and Training
- Agriculture
- Performing and Visual Arts
- Law
IGNOU will organise entrance tests for admission to various courses such as management, B.Sc., M.Ed., B.Ed., Ph.D on 8th September, 2013. 
