IGNOU: The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) has recently announced the introduction of Master of Business Administration (MBA) degrees in Hindi and Odia, with coursework available in both languages.
This program is part of a larger partnership with the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) on the E-Kumbh project, which is a nationwide effort to convert key academic content into twelve Indian languages. IGNOU's MBA curriculum has been localised using AICTE's powerful machine translation engine "Anuvadini" to better assist students who choose to study in their home language.
IGNOU also intends to launch MBA degrees in ten more Indian languages, taking a substantial step toward removing linguistic obstacles in management education.
Launch Event and Institutional Commitment
The official launch occurred on June 2 and reaffirmed 'IGNOU's dedication to making higher education open to and inclusive throughout India's diverse linguistic terrain,' according to IGNOU.
“This initiative marks a milestone in our pursuit of educational equity,” said Shri Mrutyunjay Behera, Joint Secretary, Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, who graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. “By offering MBA programs in regional languages, IGNOU is bringing professional education closer to the grassroots, in full alignment with NEP 2020’s emphasis on multilingual and inclusive education. This is more than a policy implementation—it’s a cultural transformation in education.”
Dr Abhay Jere, Vice Chairman, AICTE, emphasised the transformative role of artificial intelligence in education. "We are entering a new era where AI is enabling real-time translation and localization of content at an unprecedented scale. The Anuvadini tool represents a powerful step in making education truly borderless. AICTE is proud to partner with IGNOU in building an inclusive academic future,” he noted. He advocated a subscription-based model of higher education for lifelong learning.
Prof. Uma Kanjilal, Vice Chancellor, IGNOU, expressed gratitude to the dignitaries and partners, adding, “We are deeply thankful to Shri Mrutnajay Behra and Dr. Abhay Jere for supporting this visionary initiative. Technology is the key enabler here, allowing us to create high-quality educational experiences across languages. Our mission is to ensure that no learner is left behind, regardless of their linguistic background.”
