The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) is a National Open University established by an Act of Parliament in 1985 (Act No. 50 of 1985). It is the Only Open University in the Country to have been accredited with the highest A++ Grade by NAAC. IGNOU was established to achieve the following objectives:
• Democratizing higher education by taking it to the doorsteps of the learners.
• Providing access to high quality education to all those who seek it irrespective of age, region, religion and gender
• Offering need-based academic programmes by giving professional and vocational orientation to the courses, and
• Promoting and developing distance education in India. The details of these programmes are available at www.ignou.ac.in and also in the Student Handbook and e-prospectus 2023.

Important Achievements:
• First Open University in the Country to have been accredited with the highest A++ Grade by NAAC.
• Emergence of IGNOU as the largest Open University in the world. Recognition as Centre of Excellence in Distance Education by the Commonwealth of Learning (1993).
• Award of Excellence for Distance Education Material by Commonwealth of learning (1999). Launch of a series of 24 hour Educational Channels “Gyan Darshan”. IGNOU is the nodal agency for these channels and regular transmissions are done from the studios at Electronic Media Production Centre (EMPC), IGNOU.

RECOGNITION OF IGNOU DEGREES
The Degrees/ Diplomas/Certificates awarded by IGNOU are recognized by all the member institutions of the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) and are at par with the corresponding Degrees/ Diplomas/Certificates issued by all Indian Universities/Deemed Universities/Institutions etc. The UGC Notification No. F. 1-1/2020(DEB-I) dated 4th Sept., 2020 regarding recognition of Degrees and Certificate acquired through ODL mode states as under: “22. Equivalence of qualification acquired through Conventional or Open and Distance Learning and Online modes.─ Degrees at undergraduate and postgraduate level in conformity with UGC notification on Specification of Degrees, 2014 and post graduate diplomas awarded through Open and Distance Learning mode and/or Online mode by Higher Educational Institutions, recognized by the Commission under these regulations, shall be treated as equivalent to the corresponding awards of the Degrees at undergraduate and postgraduate level and post graduate diplomas offered through conventional mode”. IGNOU has been exempted from applicability of UGC (Open and Distance Learning Programme and Online Programme) Regulations, vide Letter No. F. No. 1-8/2019 (DEB-I) dated 9th August 2019 & F. No. 2-/2019 (OL) dated 17th March, 2020. http://ignou.ac.in/userfiles/Exemption%20from%20UGC%20regulations.pdf).

IGNOU REGIONAL CENTRE SRINAGAR
IGNOU Regional Centre Srinagar has been established on 1999 in University of Kashmir Campus with 4 programs with 1000 learners and now has more than 50 thousand learners. The number of LSCs/PSCs/SSC has increased to 45. IGNOU family at Regional Centre Srinagar which includes the staff at RC Srinagar, part-time staff at LSCs/PSCs is dedicated for providing all support services to the Learners of IGNOU. In order to address the complaints/issues of the learners, grievance redressal has become a regular feature at the RC Srinagar and LSCs/PSCs. Different online/offline sessions are being conducting for the guidance/information of the Learners regarding preparation of synopsis, dissertation, projects and internship. Several MoU’s have been signed with the medical institutions for facilitating the internship of the Learners. LSCs/PSCs are now playing a proactive role and are complying with the newly framed guidelines issued by the RC Srinagar regarding assignments, dissertation/project work, student support services, etc, for the benefit of the Learners. With the issue of the notices by the UGC and IGNOU regarding Dual degree and equivalence of ODL/OL with the degrees obtained through conventional mode, the RC Srinagar is making new efforts to provide benefits of these initiatives to the community. Outreach: At present IGNOU RC Srinagar is operating practically in every nook and corner of Kashmir through a network of 45 Learner Support Centres, comprising 32 Regular Study Centres (LSCs), 12 Programme Study Centres (PSCs) and 1 Special Study Centre (SSCs). The Regional Centre has established Learner Support Centres (LSCs) in all the districts of its jurisdiction and it is trying to reach the unreached by way of establishing LSCs at sub division and blocks levels. Many new proposals to extend IGNOUs reach to newer areas like Vailo Larnoo, Uri, Gurez, Drass, Kargil, Leh, etc, for the benefit of defense personnel; ST population etc. are being taken. RC Srinagar is on a mission to reach to everyone and has now starting conducting a fortnight session on every first and third Friday of every month to reach to its learners, examinees and the people in general to provide/address all the information/issues/grievances of anyone connected with or looking forward to IGNOU for seeking education. RC Srinagar has also started a fortnight session on every first and third Monday of every month for the part time staff of LSCs/PSCs and the counsellors.