IGNOU Notable Alumni - Successful People who have Inspired Generations of Students
IGNOU Notable Alumni - Distance and open learning have become synonymous with IGNOU in our country. It is undoubtedly the most popular distance learning institute. This open university gives admission to a humungous number of students from across India each year. IGNOU was established in 1985 and quickly gained popularity in and out of India for its distance learning programmes. Over the years, it has also taught some names that have failed to stay hidden from the world. In this article, we will take a look at some notable IGNOU alumni from across fields like entertainment, public administration, media, etc. Read on for more on IGNOU and its alumni.
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- IGNOU: Highlights
- IGNOU Courses
- Notable Alumni of IGNOU
IGNOU: Highlights
Before getting into the list of its alumni, let us take a look at some highlights about the people's university here.
| Particulars |
Highlights |
|---|---|
| Establishment year | Ownership |
1985 | Government |
| Also known as |
IGNOU, IGNOU University |
| Number of schools |
21 |
| Number of regional centres |
67 |
| Number of learner support centres |
2,667 |
| Number of courses offered |
200+ |
| Type of scholarships offered |
Category-based, Need-based |
| Faculty members |
800+ |
| Mode of study | Application mode |
Distance | Online |
| Official website |
ignou.ac.in |
IGNOU Courses
Some of the popular streams in which various IGNOU courses are offered include:
| Streams at IGNOU |
|
|---|---|
| Engineering |
Management |
| Medicine |
Law |
| Hospitality |
IT & Software |
| Mass Communication |
Science |
| Teaching |
Fine Arts |
Notable Alumni of IGNOU
While IGNOU has been catering to the educational aspirations of students for over 30 years, it is a general belief among students that the university is apt only for those who are academically weak or non-serious about their careers. The self-guided approach to higher education may be the reason behind this misconception. However, it is far from the truth. IGNOU has provided quality distance education and its alumni are proof of the same. Here is a list of some notable IGNOU alumni.
Keshvendra Kumar:
IGNOU offers Degree, Diploma and Certificate courses in the fields of Language studies, Humanities, Computer Science, Social Work, Tourism, Journalism, etc. Students pursing these career-oriented courses can land jobs in the corporate as well government sector. For more information on IGNOU online courses, students can visit the official website.
According to students’ reviews and unofficial sources, BSc students have found it easy to get jobs through off-campus placement drives. BSc course offered by IGNOU is popular among students and the allied industry. IGNOU offers BSc course across seven specialisations including Chemistry, Geography, Geology, Mathematics, Physics, Zoology and Nursing. Students after completing their BSc course from IGNOU can find job in Corporate, Government, Non-Profit and Academic sectors.
Keshvendra Kumar is an IAS Officer who belongs to the state of Bihar. After completing his schooling from Sitamarhi, Keshvendra enrolled in a Hindi (Hons) course at IGNOU. Along with Hindi (Hons), Keshvendra also pursued a railways vocational course to support his family financially. After completing the course from IGNOU, Keshvendra took the UPSC Civil Services Exam and cracked it on the first attempt.
Kumar Ravikant Singh:
Having a similar story as Keshvendra, Kumar Ravikant Singh is also an IAS Officer from Bihar. The lad secured admission at IGNOU after clearing Class 12th and also took up a job simultaneously. Thereafter, Kumar took as well as cracked the Civil Services Exam.
Himanshu Kumar:
Himanshu Kumar, an IAS Officer again, is the third student ever of IGNOU to crack the UPSC Civil Services Exam. Himanshu had enrolled in an MA Public Administration course at the university. Hailing from Champaran district in Bihar, Himanshu has completed his graduation in Journalism from Delhi University.
Karthik Gurunathan Iyer:
Yes, you can get a job abroad. There are certain organisations that do prefer full-time graduation but getting rejected everywhere should not be the scenario. IGNOU is recognised globally as a university. There may be other reasons for the rejection like in the current scenario, hiring is very specific, so hence, maybe your qualification does not match. The post may require someone with experience. Your skillset may be lacking for the position that you have applied for. Relook at the job posts that you have applied for and then see if there are any other reasons.
Currently, in COVID 19 situation, the job market is very bleak and since you have just done your graduation and if money is not adequate necessary then try doing some additional courses like digital marketing, graphic design, website development. These would be an added advantage and would increase your job prospects too. Well, IGNOU provides distance learning degrees. If you are a graduate from IGNOU you might be able to take admission into some medium level foreign university but it will be a struggle to cope up with the regular programme that too in foreign.
If you wish you go abroad for MBA, it is advisable to take your graduation in regular mode in reputed universities like LPU and then take your chances in many credit transfer programs which can get you into reputed foreign universities and that too with much less expense.
Yes, as per the details collated from various sources on the internet, the degree from IGNOU University is valid and acceptable in overseas and foreign countries with ease. Also, an MBA degree holder can get a job of as a Team Lead or go for a profile with managerial responsibility for any company or department. A manager’s job profile broadly includes planning, strategising, execution, leading the team, liaison with clients, coordinating with other departments, delegation of work and responsibilities, and reporting to higher authorities regarding projects undertaken. Some of the leading companies that hire MBA pass-outs, include Deloitte, ITC, Samsung and Reliance, among others.
MBA course offered by IGNOU is among many popular courses offered by IGNOU that has good career scope. The MBA course at IGNOU comes with robust curriculum that equip students with all nuances of the Management sector. In order to get a job after pursing MBA from IGNOU, students need to stay updated with market trends and start applying for jobs two months before the completion of the course. Further, it will be good for students to enroll in short-term add-on courses in the niche domain be it Marketing, Finance, HR or Operations. These skills coupled with MS Office expertise can possibly help students find jobs after doing an MBA from IGNOU. Importantly, the Campus Placement Cell also help students get jobs through Job Fairs.
Karthik Gurunathan Iyer completed his graduation in Science stream from Fergusson College, Pune University. Thereafter, Karthik secured admission in the Masters in Political Science programme at IGNOU and started preparing for the Civil Services Exam simultaneously. He cracked the Civil Services Exam in a single attempt and wished to join the Indian Foreign Service (IFS).
Deepika Padukone:
Deepika Padukone is one of the highest-paid actresses in the Indian film industry. Born in Denmark and brought up in Bangalore, Deepika enrolled in the BA Sociology programme at IGNOU after completing her schooling. However, the actress later quit the course due to her emerging career in modelling. Another actress who has studied at IGNOU is Celina Jaitley.
Sudipta Chakraborty:
Sudipta Chakraborty is an Indian actress who usually works in Bengali cinema. Hailing from the city of Kolkata, Bengal, Sudipta has completed her graduation in English from IGNOU post where she went ahead to build a career in films.
General Deepak Kapoor:
General Deepak Kapoor was the Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army from 2007 – 2010. The General has completed his master’s degree in Business Administration from IGNOU.
Ashok Khemka:
Ashok Khemka is another popular IGNOU alumni who is a notable economist, computer scientist and IAS Officer in the state of Haryana. The officer possesses an MA in Economics degree from IGNOU.
Reema Debnath:
Reema Debnath is an Indian actress who is known for her supporting roles in films like Bodyguard and PK. Born and brought up in Agartala, Tripura, Reema has completed her graduation from Calcutta University. Apart from this, the actress has also pursued courses in Modern Office Management and Computing from IGNOU.
Biswatosh Sengupta:
Biswatosh Sengupta is one of the most highly qualified alumni of IGNOU and is an Indian academic. Among the various degrees that he possesses, Biswatosh has completed his PG Diploma in Creative Writing in English, Diploma in Computer in Office Management, and MCA from IGNOU.
Lipin Raj:
Fighting all the odds of an eye injury, financial crisis and other family issues, Lipin Raj cracked the prestigious Civil Services Exam to become an IAS Officer. The lad completed his graduation from Mar Ivanios College, Thiruvananthapuram and post-graduation in MA History from IGNOU.
This was our list of top IGNOU alumni. As evident above, pursuing a course from Indira Gandhi National Open University only adds more shine to one’s career.
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- M.A. (Master of Arts)
- B.A (Bachelor of Arts)
- MSc (Master of Science)
- Social Responsibility
- B.Ed
- BSc
- MBA (Masters of Business Administration)
- B.Com
- B.Lib.I.Sc. (Bachelor of Library and Information Science)
- BCA (Bachelor of Computer Applications)
- Ph.D.
- B.Sc. Nursing (Post Basic)
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- Science Subject
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- Business & Management Study
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Contact Details
Address
Indira Gandhi National Open University, Maidan Garhi
Saket, Delhi
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Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered a week ago
Hi.
Yes, you can still apply for M.Com from IGNOU even if your graduation degree shows “ER” (Essential Repeat / Enrolled Result / Backlog) — but there are a few important points to note:
IGNOU Eligibility for M.Com
Basic Requirement: You must have a B.Com, BBA, or other recognised bachelor's degree fro
h
Scholar-Level 18
Answered a week ago
The IGNOU BEd Entrance Exam is conducted once in a year preferably in March. Indira Gandhi National Open University will release the IGNOU BEd Entrance Exam Application form in January 2026. Direct link will be provided at Shiksha.com.
A
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
The IGNOU BEd Entrance Exam Syllabus is released for all four subjects - General English Comprehension, Logical & Analytical Reasoning, Educational and General Awareness, and Teaching Learning and Aptitude. The IGNOU BEd entrance test includes the basic teaching concepts alongside a general intellig
A
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
IGNOU conducts its own entrance examination for admission to Bachelor of Education (BEd) program. The IGNOU BEd cutoff for 2022 was 61 for the General AI category. The IGNOU BEd Entrance Test is an all-India level entrance test conducted by Indira Gandhi National Open University. Students can click
N
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
Yes, an IGNOU BEd degree is fully valid for government jobs in India, as IGNOU is a Central University recognised by UGC and DEB, and its degrees are treated as equivalent to regular degrees for all major government exams (UPSC, SSC, Teaching, etc.), provided you meet specific subject/marks criteria
A
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
IGNOU BEd Entrance Exam include 100 MCQs of 100 marks that candidates need to complete in two hours. Candidates will get +1 for every correct answer. There is no negative marking for an incorrect or a question left unanswered in the exam.
A
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 weeks ago
Yes, the degree from Indira Gandhi National Open University is valid for CTET and other government jobs also. Candidates can get admission after clearing the IGNOU BEd Entrance Test.
A
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
Yes, it is important to clear the IGNOU BEd entrance test. The scores and result decides if you will get the admission.
A
Contributor-Level 10
Yes, IGNOU has a dedicated Campus Placement Cell, which is popularly known as CPC. The Campus Placement Cell organises campus placement drives from time-to-time. The notification regarding campus placement drives is uploaded online in the placement section of the official website. The job notifications include detailed information regarding no. of vacancies, eligibility, application date, salary package, etc. Apart from this, IGNOU CPC has a strong base of alumni network that helps fellow students to stay updated with relevant job vacancies.