Indira Gandhi National Open University, popularly known as IGNOU, is one of the largest open universities in India. Established by the Indira Gandhi National Open University Act, 1985 (IGNOU Act 1985), the university is named after the first woman Prime Minister of India Indira Gandhi. 

The university offers distance education to more than 3 million students in India and internationally through 21 schools, a network of 67 regional centers, and 29 foreign partner universities. In online and ODL formats, it offers over 226 short and long-term Academic Programs such as Certificates, Diplomas, UG Degrees, PG Degrees, and Doctoral Degrees. MBA, MCA, M.Com, MA (English), MTTM, MARD, and MSc DFSM are the most popular programs.

UNESCO has named IGNOU the world’s largest institute of higher learning. It has A++ accreditation from NAAC. It is comprised of 21 Schools of Studies, 67 Regional Centres, over 2667 Learner Support Centres, 810 faculty members, and 29 foreign institutes. The university provides almost 200 degrees, diplomas, certificates, and doctoral programs at low cost.

IGNOU Admission is done twice a year: January and July. All IGNOU courses at the UG and PG levels are selected based on merit in the qualifying test. Admission to B.Ed. and Doctoral programs is dependent on an entrance exam. NTA administers the university B.Ed Entrance Exam in two sessions at various locations.

Admissions are available in 161 courses and are based on merit in the qualifying examination as well as marks gained in admission exams. IGNOU New Delhi courses are available at four levels. These are the diploma, undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels. The institution provides courses in full-time, distance, and online formats.

It has launched four new specializations in its MBA program, with an admission deadline of July 31, 2022. Human Resource Management, Marketing Management, Finance Management, and Operations Management are the new MBA Specializations.