IGNOU Study Centre at Tihar Jail inaugurated.

IGNOU launches six month Certificate programme in Health Care Waste Management.

Special teleconferencing session on "Best Practices" observed at the 32 Regional Centres of the University and subsequent brainstorming session on Student Support Services at the EMPC, IGNOU on 8th Jan. 2006. Prof. H P Dikshit, Vice Chancellor, declared that efforts are being made to provide the educational programmes of the University to remote areas of the country through Direct to Home (DTH) facility.

IGNOU and National Board of Examination (NBE) entered into a Memorandum of Collaboration (MoC) for cooperation and joint action to support the development of medical education and training in the country.

IGNOU in collaboration with Rehabilitation Council of India offered Awareness-cum-training Packages in Disability, in the areas of Mental Retardation, Visual impairment and Cerebral Palsy, for parents and family members of Children with disabilities.

Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) organised an International Training Programme on "Media for Diplomacy" for the Press Attaches of the Embassy of the State of Kuwait from Feb.06-March 10, 2006

The Seventeenth Convocation of Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) was held on Saturday, the 18th February, 2006 at 3.00pm at Sanchar Kendra, IGNOU Campus. The Convocation was simultaneously held at IGNOU Headquarters and 24 Regional Centres spread across the country. Degree/ Diploma and certificates to 75,174 students were awarded.

Dr. Anil Kakodkar, Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission and Secretary, Department of Atomic Energy, Govt. of India was the Chief Guest and delivered the Convocation address.

Sh. N R Narayana Murthy, Chairman, Infosys was awarded Doctor of Science, (Honoris Causa).

48 candidates in various disciplines received the gold medals from the Chief Guest. Gold Medals were also awarded for the best Research Paper, best Regional Centre and Innovations in open and Distance Learning.

Dr. Samlee Plianbangchang Regional Director, World Health Organization(WHO), South East Asia Region Office (SEARO) and Vice Chancellor IGNOU, Prof. H P Dikshit inaugurated a Certificate Programme in Health Care Waste management at Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) on 10th March 2006.

IGNOU signed MoUs for offering IGNOU's programmes with Universal Empire Institute of Technology, Dubai, Wisdom Institute of Technology, UAE, the University of Fiji, Distance Education Modernization Project (DEMP), Ministry of Education, Sri Lanka and Virtual University of Tunis, Tunisia.
In pursuance of the decisions taken in the 2nd meeting of Board of Governers of SACODil, all Open Universities in the SAARC region have agreed to mutually recognise first degree programmes.

Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) and Foreign Service Institute (FSI), Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India extended their MoU for 2 years. The agreement was signed by Mr. Rahul Kulshrestha on behalf of Foreign Service Insititute, Ministry of External Affairs and Mr. Dapil Kumar Tetri, Registrar, IGNOU.

Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) set up a Regional Centre at Port Blair. The Andaman & Nicobar Administration, has provided built-in space for the Regional Centre Building. The Study Centres were set up in four islands, one each at Middle Andaman (Rangat), Little Andaman (Hut Bay), Car Nicobar, Nancowry Group of Islands (Kamorta) and Great Nicobar (Campbell Bay).

11th Prof. G. Ram Reddy Memorial Lecutre was organised by Indira Gandhi National Open University. Prof. Yashpal. Former Chairman, University Grants Commission and a well known educationist deliverd the lecture on 2nd July, 2006 at Electronic Media Production Centre of the University. The title of the lecture is "Let us not Forget the Proximate while Chasing the Wonders of Distance Education".

Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) entered into a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) with Payame Noor University (PNU), Tehran for establishing a network in the field of higher education, sharing of academic experiences, development of strategies for design and development of joint programmes and to undertake joint R&D projects. The MoC signing was graced by His Excellency Ambassdor of the Islamic Republic of Iran Sh. S.L.Yoghoubi and Acting Vice-Chancellor of IGNOU, Prof. S.C.Garg.

A Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) signed between the Ministry of Power, Govt. of India and the Indira Gandhi National Open University(IGNOU) at New Delhi in the presence of Hon'ble Minister, Ministry of Power(MoP) Shri Sushil Kumar Shinde, Secretary, Ministry of Power, Shri R. V. Shahi and Vice- Chancellor, IGNOU, Prof. S. C. Garg for capacity building in the Indian Power Sector.

The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) launched Ph.D in Commerce and Management from the current year

Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) launched B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering.

Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) announced a four year programme of B.Sc. (Hons.) in Optometry and Ophthalmic Techniques in collaboration with Federation of Ophthalmic Research and Education Centres (FOREC).

A delegation headed by Libyan Minister of Higher Education, H.E. Dr. Ibrahum al-Zarruq al-Sharif visited Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) to explore possibilities of collaboration and faculty exchange to further strengthen distance education system in their country.

IGNOU entered into an Memorandum of Understanding with National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Lagos, Nigeria on 23rd September, 2006.

This MoU would facilitate NOUN to adopt/adapt the course materials developed by IGNOU for Bachelor of Computer Applications(BCA), Master of Computer Application (MCA), Management, Post Graduate Diploma in Distance Education (PGDDE) and Master of Arts (Distance Education), (MADE).

A Memorandum of Collaboration was signed between Indra Gandhi National Open Unviersity (IGNOU) and Insurance Institute of India (III), Mumbai in the capital.

Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) and the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Dvelopment Authority (APEDA), under the Ministry of Commerce signed an MoU to develop educational programmes in the area of Agricultural Export/Import.

Prof. V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai took over as the new Vice Chancellor of Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) on 21st Oct. 2006.

"Progress Report Book" shall be introduced for the students of Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) to be maintained by him or her till they are students of IGNOU, announced Prof. V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai, the new Vice Chancellor of IGNOU.

IGNOU - ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) decided to form an Alumni Association so as to bring together all the ex-students of IGNOU, announced Prof. V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai, Vice Chancellor.

Two day Regional Directors meeting was held in IGNOU, New Delhi on 12th-14th Nov. 2006.

A meeting of the Vice Chancellors of State Open Universities and Directors of Directorates of Distance Education Institutions was held with Prof. VN Rajasekharan Pillai, Chairman, Distance Education Council (DEC) at IGNOU Headquarters on 23rd Nov. 2006.

The library of Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) at Headquarters as well as libraries of its regional centres was thrown open to IGNOU students. Steps are also being taken to link these libraries with other national library data bases, announced Prof. VN Rajasekharan Pillai, Vice Chancellor.