Indira Gandhi National Open University

Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) is a central open and distance learning university located in Delhi, India. It was established in 1985 with a budget of ₹20 million after Parliament passed the Indira Gandhi National Open University Act, 1985, and it came into existence on 20 September 1985. Operated by the Government of India, IGNOU is described as the world's largest university, enrolling over 3,000,000 students and offering 333 academic programs through 21 Schools of Studies, supported by 67 Regional Centres and 2,257 Learner Support Centres. In 2023–24, it recorded 753,286 total registrations, with 352,354 students in bachelor's programs, the Bachelor of Arts being most popular. IGNOU decentralised operations into five zones—north, south, east, west, and north-east. Its first convocation was held in 1989, and its degrees gained full UGC recognition in 1992. In 1999 it launched India's first virtual campus. By 2011, IGNOU had served students in over 40 countries. It partners with various government bodies and organizations, including RAI, MSDE, NSDC, and the Dr. Ambedkar Foundation, on skill development and training initiatives.