Regional Director Dr Dharam Pal says flexible learning system offers over 350 academic programmes through 34 study centres across 17 Haryana districts

YAMUNANAGAR | Pen of Democracy News Desk

The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) has extended the last date for admissions to all academic programmes for the July 2026 admission cycle until August 16, 2026, offering aspiring learners additional time to secure admission. The announcement was made by Dr Dharam Pal, Regional Director and Head of IGNOU Regional Centre, Karnal.

Dr Dharam Pal said the extension provides an excellent opportunity for students who could not complete the admission process earlier. He urged eligible candidates to take advantage of the extended deadline and complete their enrolment well before the closing date.

He said the Karnal Regional Centre is providing accessible, affordable and quality higher education through 34 study centres spread across 17 districts of Haryana. Under IGNOU’s Open and Distance Learning (ODL) system, students can pursue higher education while staying close to their homes and appear for examinations at nearby examination centres. He added that students are also provided the flexibility to change their study or regional centre in case of relocation.

Highlighting the university’s academic offerings, Dr Dharam Pal said IGNOU currently offers more than 350 academic programmes, including undergraduate, postgraduate, diploma and postgraduate diploma courses. These programmes are designed to enhance students’ academic knowledge, professional skills and career prospects across diverse disciplines.

He further noted that students pursuing technical education in polytechnics, engineering colleges and Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) can simultaneously enrol in IGNOU’s undergraduate or diploma programmes without disrupting their regular studies. The university’s flexible learning model enables learners to study according to their own schedules while continuing their technical education.

According to Dr Dharam Pal, students meeting the eligibility criteria can apply for undergraduate programmes such as B.A.M., B.Com.F. and B.Sc.M., along with a wide range of diploma courses. He said pursuing dual qualifications can significantly improve employment opportunities and strengthen students’ professional competencies in the future.

Appealing to aspiring candidates, Dr Dharam Pal advised students not to wait until the last date and to complete the admission process before August 16, so they can benefit from IGNOU’s flexible, learner-centric and nationally recognised education system.

POD/DESK