 |
| IGNOU Teaching Recruitment 2026 – Professor, Associate Professor & Assistant Professor |
IGNOU Teaching Recruitment 2026 – Professor, Associate Professor & Assistant Professor
Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), Maidan Garhi, New Delhi, has released Advertisement No. 01/2026/ACD dated 19 September 2026 for direct recruitment to teaching posts of Professor, Associate Professor and Assistant Professor. The official vacancy table contains 43 posts across 14 Schools of Studies, including SC, ST and OBC backlog vacancies.
Current Status: Upcoming recruitment. The online application process will begin on 20 September 2026.
Latest Update: The last date for the online application is 20 October 2026, or 30 days from publication in Employment News, whichever is later. The bound hard copy of the submitted application must reach the Academic Coordination Division by 30 October 2026.
Pay: Academic Level 14 for Professor, Level 13A for Associate Professor and Level 10 for Assistant Professor. Selection: Screening of applications followed by interview.
Quick Overview – IGNOU Teaching Recruitment 2026
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Organisation | Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) |
| Parent Ministry | Ministry of Education, Government of India |
| Sector | Central university / higher education |
| Advertisement No. | 01/2026/ACD dated 19.09.2026 |
| Posts | Professor, Associate Professor, Assistant Professor |
| Total Vacancies | 43 (21 Professor + 16 Associate Professor + 6 Assistant Professor) |
| Job Type | Regular Government Service / Direct Recruitment |
| Application Mode | Online application + hard copy by Registered Post / Speed Post |
| Online Application | 20 September 2026 to 20 October 2026, or 30 days from Employment News publication, whichever is later |
| Hard Copy Last Date | 30 October 2026 |
| Application Fee | ₹500 for UR/OBC/EWS; Nil for SC/ST/PwBD |
| Selection | Screening of applications followed by interview |
| Job Location | IGNOU Headquarters, Maidan Garhi, New Delhi |
| Official Website | ignou.ac.in |
Important Dates
| Event | Date / Details |
|---|---|
| Advertisement Date | 19 September 2026 |
| Online Application Starts | 20 September 2026 |
| Online Application Last Date | 20 October 2026, or 30 days from Employment News publication, whichever is later |
| Hard Copy Receipt Last Date | 30 October 2026 |
| Eligibility Cut-off | Last date of online application |
| Interview / Admit Card | To be notified on the registered email |
Correction Window: No correction window is mentioned in the notification. Entries cannot be edited after final online submission.
Vacancy Details
| Post | Vacancies | Academic Level |
|---|---|---|
| Professor | 21 | Level 14 |
| Associate Professor | 16 | Level 13A |
| Assistant Professor | 6 | Level 10 |
| Total | 43 | — |
The vacancy table includes reserved and backlog vacancies carried from earlier years. Each reserved slot listed in the official vacancy information is counted as one post.
Post-wise Vacancy and Eligibility
Professor – Academic Level 14
| School | Discipline | Posts / Category |
|---|---|---|
| School of Humanities | English | 01 (PwBD-a) |
| School of Humanities | Urdu | 01 (ST) |
| School of Social Sciences | Anthropology | 01 (SC) |
| School of Social Sciences | Sociology | 01 (OBC) |
| School of Sciences | Biochemistry | 01 (ST) |
| School of Sciences | Chemistry | 01 (OBC) |
| School of Sciences | Physics | 01 (SC) |
| School of Sciences | Statistics | 01 (OBC) |
| School of Continuing Education | Child Development | 01 (UR) |
| School of Continuing Education | Home Science | 01 (UR) |
| School of Continuing Education | Nutritional Science | 01 (OBC) |
| School of Management Studies | Commerce | 01 (OBC) |
| School of Health Sciences | Health Science | 01 (UR) |
| School of Health Sciences | Nursing | 01 (SC) |
| School of Law | Law | 01 (UR) |
| School of Journalism and New Media Studies | Journalism & New Media Studies | 01 (UR) |
| School of Tourism, Hospitality Service Sectoral Management | Tourism and Hospitality Service | 01 (ST) |
| School of InterDisciplinary & TransDisciplinary Studies | Environment Studies | 01 (OBC) |
| School of Social Work | Social Work | 01 (UR) |
| School of Foreign Languages | Foreign Languages (Arabic / French / Russian / Spanish) | 01 (UR) |
| School of Translation Studies and Training | Translation Studies and Training | 01 (OBC) |
| Total | — | 21 |
Professor eligibility: PhD in the concerned, allied or relevant subject; high-quality published work; at least 10 papers in peer-reviewed or UGC-listed journals; research score of 120; and 10 years of teaching as Assistant Professor / Associate Professor / Professor and/or equivalent research, with evidence of having guided a doctoral candidate.
Professor Route B: The supplied information also lists an alternative route for an outstanding professional with a PhD in a relevant or applied field and 10 years of documented contribution.
Health Science and Nursing Professor posts follow the separate MCI/NMC and Nursing norms stated in the relevant eligibility information.
Associate Professor – Academic Level 13A
| School | Discipline | Posts / Category |
|---|---|---|
| School of Humanities | English | 01 (UR) |
| School of Humanities | Urdu | 01 (SC), 01 (OBC) |
| School of Social Sciences | Anthropology | 01 (PwBD-a) |
| School of Sciences | Biochemistry | 01 (ST) |
| School of Continuing Education | Child Development | 01 (ST) |
| School of Continuing Education | Nutritional Science | 01 (SC), 01 (UR) |
| School of Continuing Education | Home Science | 01 (OBC) |
| School of Health Sciences | Health Science | 01 (OBC) |
| School of Health Sciences | Nursing | 01 (UR) |
| School of Tourism, Hospitality Service Sectoral Management | Tourism and Hospitality Service | 01 (OBC) |
| School of InterDisciplinary & TransDisciplinary Studies | InterDisciplinary & TransDisciplinary Studies (Philosophy) | 01 (UR) |
| School of Social Work | Social Work | 01 (OBC) |
| School of Foreign Languages | Foreign Languages (Arabic / French / Russian / Spanish) | 01 (SC), 01 (UR) |
| Total | — | 16 |
Associate Professor eligibility: PhD, Master’s degree with at least 55% marks, 8 years of teaching or research equivalent to Assistant Professor, 7 publications and research score of 75.
Home Science specialisations: Community Resource Management & Extension; Development Communication & Extension; Resource Management and Design Applications; Family Resource Management; Fabric & Apparel Science; Textiles & Clothing.
Health Science: MD/MS in the listed community medicine or hospital administration fields, 5 years of post-PG experience and 4 years as Assistant Professor with two indexed papers as first or corresponding author.
Nursing: M.Sc. Nursing with 55% marks and 10 years of teaching after M.Sc. Nursing.
Assistant Professor – Academic Level 10
| School | Discipline | Posts / Category |
|---|---|---|
| School of Sciences | Geology | 01 (PwBD-a) |
| School of Health Sciences | Health Science | 01 (OBC) |
| School of Journalism and New Media Studies | Journalism & New Media Studies | 01 (SC), 01 (OBC) |
| School of InterDisciplinary & TransDisciplinary Studies | Environment Studies | 01 (SC) |
| School of Performing and Visual Arts | Visual Arts (Painting) | 01 (OBC) |
| Total | — | 6 |
General Assistant Professor eligibility: Master’s degree with 55% marks in the concerned subject plus NET (UGC/CSIR), unless exempted by a qualifying PhD under UGC 2009 / 2016 / 2022 rules.
Health Science: MBBS with MD/MS from an MCI-recognised college in Preventive and Social Medicine / Community Medicine or Hospital Administration / Community Health Administration, along with the Junior Resident and Senior Resident experience stated in the eligibility information.
Visual Arts (Painting): Master’s with 55% plus NET/PhD, or the traditional/professional artist route with a Bachelor’s degree and the specified AIR/Doordarshan and teaching conditions.
Assistant Professor Route B: PhD from a foreign university ranked in the top 500 by QS, THE or ARWU at any time.
Other Eligibility Conditions
- Applicants must hold the essential qualification on the online closing date.
- OBC creamy-layer candidates claiming an OBC reserved post are not eligible for that reserved post and may apply against UR posts.
- PwBD applicants with disability below 40% cannot claim a PwBD reserved post.
- Applicants from IGNOU Advertisement No. 02/2022/ACD or 02/2023/ACD must apply again with updated documents. The fee is waived when proof of the earlier payment is uploaded.
- Applicants seeking more than one School or post must submit a separate application and pay a separate fee for each.
- Serving employees should keep an NOC and vigilance clearance ready for interview.
- Time spent on M.Phil. or PhD is not counted as teaching experience, except active service without leave while research is undertaken alongside a teaching post.
Age Limit
Maximum Age: Not mentioned in the notification.
Eligibility is judged on qualifications and experience as on the last date of the online application.
Salary / Pay Scale
| Post | Academic Level | Basic Pay Range |
|---|---|---|
| Professor | Level 14 | ₹1,44,200 – ₹2,18,200 |
| Associate Professor | Level 13A | ₹1,31,400 – ₹2,17,100 |
| Assistant Professor | Level 10 | ₹57,700 – ₹1,82,400 |
Allowances such as Dearness Allowance, House Rent Allowance and Transport Allowance apply as per Government of India rules. The supplied information states that New Delhi is treated as an X-class city for HRA at 30% of basic under the stated 7th CPC city classification.
Application Fee
| Category | Fee Per Post |
|---|---|
| UR / OBC / EWS | ₹500 |
| SC / ST / PwBD | Nil |
| Applicants from Advt. 02/2022/ACD or 02/2023/ACD for the same post | Nil, if earlier fee proof is uploaded |
The fee can be paid online by credit card, debit card or net banking. The supplied information states that the fee once paid is not refunded or adjusted.
Selection Process
The supplied recruitment information states that there is no written examination. Applications are screened using the stated UGC 2018 academic criteria, followed by an interview.
| Stage | Details |
|---|---|
| 1. Online Form + Hard Copy | Both must be submitted within the prescribed dates. Incomplete files are rejected. |
| 2. Screening Committee | Applications are screened on the stated academic criteria. Screening marks do not count in the interview. |
| 3. Interview | Original certificates and valid photo ID are checked. No TA/DA is paid. |
| 4. Offer and Verification | Antecedents may be checked at appointment or later. False papers can end the appointment. |
For Professor posts, a maximum of 15 candidates per post may be called. For other posts, the University decides the call list. Specialisation, where notified, is also used for shortlisting.
How to Apply for IGNOU Teaching Recruitment 2026
- Visit the IGNOU official website when the application portal opens on 20 September 2026.
- Open the Announcements / Academic Coordination Division section and select Advertisement No. 01/2026/ACD dated 19.09.2026.
- Read the official advertisement and the relevant Professor, Associate Professor and Assistant Professor eligibility documents before applying.
- Complete the prescribed online Application Proforma using a working email ID. Later communications, including the interview call, are sent to the registered email.
- Pay the applicable ₹500 fee where payable and submit the online application. The supplied information states that data cannot be changed after final submission.
- Print the submitted application form and attach the required self-attested copies in the same order as the form.
- Bind or tag the document set and number every page. Loose sheets will not be accepted.
- Write the post name, discipline, School and Advertisement No. 01/2026/ACD on the envelope.
- Send the hard copy by Registered Post or Speed Post so that it reaches the following address by 30 October 2026:
Director, Academic Coordination Division
Indira Gandhi National Open University
Maidan Garhi, New Delhi – 110068
Documents Required
- Printout of the submitted online form
- Proof of date of birth
- Degree and marksheets including Bachelor’s, Master’s, M.Phil. and PhD documents, as applicable
- NET/JRF certificate, if applicable
- Experience certificates with pay scale and gross pay, appointment letters, Form 16 or payslips and promotion orders
- Publication reprints along with journal cover and contents page
- Research score calculation sheets as per the appendix
- Category certificate for SC/ST/EWS/OBC-NCL and PwBD, as applicable
- NOC and vigilance clearance for serving employees, at least by the interview
- Proof of fee paid under Advertisement No. 02/2022/ACD or 02/2023/ACD, if claiming the fee exemption
- Valid photo ID for interview, such as Aadhaar, Voter ID, Driving Licence or Passport
Document Alert: OBC-NCL must be issued between 01 April 2026 and the online last date and must be valid for Union of India / Central Government jobs.
PwBD Document Alert: The disability certificate must be issued by a competent government authority, and only 40% and above can claim a PwBD reserved post.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Do not send the hard copy without first completing the online submission.
- Check that the OBC-NCL certificate meets the supplied date and Central Government validity conditions.
- Do not claim teaching experience for PhD years without the required no-leave proof.
- Upload publication lists with the journal cover and contents page as specified.
- Applicants from the 2022 or 2023 IGNOU advertisements must submit a fresh 2026 application.
- If applying for more than one post or School, submit separate applications and fees as applicable.
Service Conditions
The posts are direct recruitment positions at Academic Levels 10, 13A and 14. The notification information supplied does not specify probation months, bond amount or pension scheme in the advertisement text.
The supplied information states that central university teachers ordinarily serve under UGC and Government of India service rules, with NPS for new joiners unless a later order says otherwise. Applicants should refer to the offer letter for applicable service conditions.
The jurisdiction of any recruitment dispute is stated as Delhi.
The University may change eligibility, post numbers or criteria, or leave a post unfilled, without assigning reasons. Corrigenda are to appear on the official IGNOU website.
What Happens After Selection?
- Interview Call: Sent to the email address given in the application. Candidates should carry original documents and a photocopy set.
- Document Verification: Category, experience, pay-related proof and publication claims are checked against the application.
- Offer Letter: Issued if the Selection Committee recommends the candidate and the roster is clear.
- Joining: The supplied information identifies IGNOU Headquarters, Maidan Garhi, New Delhi as the job location.
- Probation and Confirmation: These follow IGNOU statutes and UGC rules; specific periods are not stated in the supplied advertisement information.
Contact and Helpline
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Hard Copy Address | Director, Academic Coordination Division, IGNOU, Maidan Garhi, New Delhi – 110068 |
| Technical / Form Email | helpdeskacd@ignou.ac.in |
| Website | www.ignou.ac.in |
| Phone | Not mentioned in the notification. |
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is IGNOU Teaching Recruitment 2026?
IGNOU Teaching Recruitment 2026 is a direct recruitment drive for Professor, Associate Professor and Assistant Professor posts under Advertisement No. 01/2026/ACD dated 19 September 2026.
2. How many vacancies are available in IGNOU Teaching Recruitment 2026?
A total of 43 vacancies are listed: 21 Professor, 16 Associate Professor and 6 Assistant Professor posts.
3. When will the IGNOU recruitment application start?
The online application process starts on 20 September 2026.
4. What is the last date to apply for IGNOU Teaching Recruitment 2026?
The online application last date is 20 October 2026, or 30 days from publication in Employment News, whichever is later. The hard copy must reach IGNOU by 30 October 2026.
5. What is the application fee for IGNOU Teaching Recruitment 2026?
The fee is ₹500 for UR/OBC/EWS candidates and Nil for SC/ST/PwBD candidates. Applicants covered by the specified 2022 or 2023 IGNOU advertisements may also have a Nil fee when the required earlier payment proof is uploaded.
6. What is the age limit for IGNOU Teaching Recruitment 2026?
The maximum age is not mentioned in the supplied notification information. Eligibility is judged on qualifications and experience as on the last date of online application.
7. Is there a written exam for IGNOU Teaching Recruitment 2026?
The supplied information states that there is no written examination. Applications are screened, followed by an interview.
8. What is the salary for IGNOU Professor, Associate Professor and Assistant Professor posts?
Professor posts are at Academic Level 14 with basic pay of ₹1,44,200–₹2,18,200; Associate Professor posts are at Level 13A with ₹1,31,400–₹2,17,100; and Assistant Professor posts are at Level 10 with ₹57,700–₹1,82,400.
9. How should the IGNOU teaching recruitment application be submitted?
Candidates must first complete the online application and then send the prescribed bound hard copy by Registered Post or Speed Post so that it reaches the Academic Coordination Division by 30 October 2026.
Important Note
Important Note: Candidates should carefully check the official notification for complete eligibility conditions, application instructions and recruitment updates before applying.
Disclaimer
Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes. Candidates should verify the latest recruitment details, eligibility, dates and instructions from the official notification or official recruitment website before applying.
Join WhatsApp Channel
|
Join Telegram Channel
|
Important Links
| Purpose | Official Link |
|---|---|
| Official IGNOU Website | IGNOU Official Website |
| Recruitment / Advertisement Page | IGNOU Advertisement 01/2026/ACD |
| Official Advertisement PDF | Teaching Positions Advertisement 2026 PDF |
| Professor Eligibility PDF | Professor Eligibility PDF |
| Associate Professor Eligibility PDF | Associate Professor Eligibility PDF |
| Assistant Professor Eligibility PDF | Assistant Professor Eligibility PDF |
