IGNOU Delhi Teaching Recruitment 2026 – Apply Online for Professor, Associate Professor and Assistant Professor Posts

Vacancies: 43 · Posts: 3 · Type: Regular Government Service · Mode: Online + Hard Copy · Fee: ₹500 (UR/OBC/EWS) / Nil (SC/ST/PwBD) · Apply: 20 September 2026–20 October 2026 · Salary: AL-10 to AL-14 · Selection: Screening + Interview · Location: New Delhi

Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), Maidan Garhi, New Delhi, has opened direct recruitment for teaching posts under Advertisement No. 01/2026/ACD dated 19 September 2026. The drive covers Professor, Associate Professor and Assistant Professor posts across 14 Schools of Studies.

The official vacancy table lists 21 Professor, 16 Associate Professor and 6 Assistant Professor slots, including SC, ST and OBC backlog carried from earlier years. The parent body is the Ministry of Education, Government of India. IGNOU itself was set up by an Act of Parliament in 1985.

Online applications open on 20 September 2026. The last date for the online form is 20 October 2026, or 30 days from publication in Employment News, whichever is later. A bound hard copy must reach the Academic Coordination Division by 30 October 2026.

This is a full notification with dates, pay levels and UGC-based eligibility. Discipline-wise specialisations sit in the three eligibility PDFs. Read those PDFs before you pay the fee.

Also Read: IIT Delhi Principal Project Scientist Recruitment 2026 – Apply by Email for 2 Posts

Who Should Apply?

This drive suits working university teachers, college faculty and researchers who already meet UGC 2018 norms for the post they want.

Best-fit profiles

• Professor (21 posts): PhD holders with about 10 years’ teaching or equivalent research, 10 publications and a research score of 120. Rare reserved slots include English (PwBD-a), Urdu (ST), Biochemistry (ST) and Tourism (ST).
• Associate Professor (16 posts): PhD, Master’s with 55% marks, 8 years at Assistant Professor level, 7 publications and research score 75. Home Science has specialisations in extension, resource management and textiles.
• Assistant Professor (6 posts): Master’s with 55% plus NET, or a qualifying PhD. Geology (PwBD-a), Journalism (SC and OBC), Environmental Studies (SC), Visual Arts–Painting (OBC) and Health Science (OBC) are the listed openings.
• Health Science / Nursing faculty: MBBS with MD/MS as per MCI/NMC teacher norms, or M.Sc. Nursing with the experience stated in the eligibility PDF.
• Earlier IGNOU applicants (Advt. 02/2022/ACD and 02/2023/ACD): You must apply again with updated papers. The fee is waived if you upload proof of the earlier payment.

Alternative eligibility routes

• Professor Route B: outstanding professional with Ph.D. in a relevant or applied field and 10 years’ documented contribution.
• Assistant Professor Route B: Ph.D. from a foreign university ranked in the top 500 (QS, THE or ARWU) at any time.
• Visual Arts (Painting) Route B: traditional or professional artist path with a Bachelor’s degree and the AIR/Doordarshan and teaching conditions listed in the PDF.

Who cannot apply

• Applicants who do not hold the essential qualification on the online closing date.
• OBC creamy-layer candidates claiming an OBC reserved post. They may apply only against UR posts.
• PwBD applicants with disability below 40% against a PwBD reserved post.
• Anyone sending only an offline form with no online submission. Offline-only applications are not accepted.

Practical tip: If you are eligible for more than one School or post, treat each as a separate application and a separate fee. One form does not cover two disciplines.

Serving staff in a university, college, government office or PSU should keep an NOC and vigilance clearance ready for interview, even if the first form goes through proper channel later.

Important Dates

No correction window is mentioned in the notification. Entries cannot be edited after final online submission.

Quick Overview – IGNOU Teaching Recruitment 2026

Post-wise Vacancy and Eligibility

How to read this table: Each reserved slot in the official PDF is counted as one post. The table also includes backlog vacancies of SC, ST and OBC advertised earlier. PwBD(a) means blindness and low vision.

Most posts cluster in Sciences, Continuing Education and Humanities. Assistant Professor openings are few. If your subject is Geology, Painting, Journalism or Environmental Studies, those six AP seats are the only entry-level teaching seats in this advertisement.

Professor – Academic Level 14 (₹1,44,200–₹2,18,200)

Essential eligibility (general disciplines): PhD in the concerned, allied or relevant subject; high-quality published work; minimum 10 papers in peer-reviewed or UGC-listed journals; research score 120; 10 years’ teaching as Assistant / Associate / Professor and/or equivalent research, with evidence of having guided a doctoral candidate. Route B for outstanding professionals is also open.

Health Science and Nursing follow the separate MCI/NMC and Nursing norms in the Professor eligibility PDF.

Associate Professor – Academic Level 13A (₹1,31,400–₹2,17,100)

Essential eligibility (general disciplines): PhD.; Master’s with at least 55% marks; 8 years’ teaching or research equal to Assistant Professor; 7 publications; research score 75.

Home Science specialisations (01 OBC): Community Resource Management & Extension; Development Communication & Extension; Resource Management and Design Applications; Family Resource Management; Fabric & Apparel Science; Textiles & Clothing.

Health Science Associate Professor needs an MD/MS in the listed community medicine/hospital administration fields, 5 years’ post-PG experience, and 4 years as Assistant Professor with two indexed papers as first or corresponding author. Nursing Associate Professor needs an M.Sc. Nursing with 55% and 10 years’ teaching after M.Sc. Nursing.

Assistant Professor – Academic Level 10 (₹57,700–₹1,82,400)

Essential eligibility (Geology, Journalism, Environmental Studies): Master’s with 55% in the concerned subject plus NET (UGC/CSIR), unless exempted by a qualifying PhD under UGC 2009 / 2016 / 2022 rules.

Health Science AP: MBBS with MD/MS from an MCI-recognised college, in Preventive and Social Medicine / Community Medicine or Hospital Administration / Community Health Administration, plus the Junior Resident and Senior Resident experience stated in the PDF.

Visual Arts (Painting): Master’s with 55% plus NET/Ph.D., or the traditional/professional artist route with a Bachelor’s degree.

A 5% marks relaxation (55% to 50%) at Bachelor’s and Master’s level applies to SC, ST, OBC-NCL and PwBD in the advertised PwBD category. PhD holders who took their Master’s before 19 September 1991 also get a 5% relaxation.

Use the CGPA to Percentage Calculator only if your university issues CGPA. The official conversion method in your marksheet prevails.

Age limit

Maximum age is not mentioned in the notification. Eligibility is judged on qualifications and experience as on the last date of online application.

Time spent on M.Phil. or PhD is not counted as teaching experience, except active service without leave while doing research alongside a teaching post.

Use the Experience Calculator to add only the periods that your experience certificates can prove with pay scale and gross pay.

What Is the Salary of These Faculty Posts?

Pay follows the 7th CPC academic pay matrix used in central universities.

Allowances such as Dearness Allowance, House Rent Allowance and Transport Allowance apply as per Government of India rules. New Delhi is treated as an X-class city for HRA (30% of basic under the current 7th CPC city classification).

Indicative take-home (claim + proof): An Assistant Professor starting at ₹57,700 basic in New Delhi can see gross pay move well above ₹1 lakh once DA and 30% HRA are added. The exact figure shifts with the DA order in force at joining and with NPS and tax deductions. Use the 7th CPC Salary Calculator for an estimate. The official formula prevails.

New recruits in central universities are generally covered by NPS. Check the NPS Pension Calculator for a long-term picture. The notification does not spell out NPS, probation length or a service bond.

Application Fee

Pay online by credit card, debit card or net banking. Fee once paid is not refunded or adjusted.

Apply separately and pay separately if you want more than one post or School.

How to Apply for These Teaching Posts?

Mode is online first, hard copy next. A form that is only posted, without the online submission, will not be accepted.

1. Open the IGNOU website ignou.ac.in (portal opens on 20 September 2026).

2. Open Announcements / Academic Coordination Division and select Advertisement No. 01/2026/ACD dated 19.09.2026.

3. Download and read the official advertisement PDF, plus the Professor, Associate Professor and Assistant Professor eligibility PDFs.

4. Fill the prescribed online Application Proforma with a working email ID. All later letters, including the interview call, go only to that email.

5. Upload category certificates, experience proof, publications and, if needed, earlier fee receipt. Resize photo and signature with the Photo & Signature Resizer before upload.

6. Pay ₹500 where payable and submit. Data cannot be changed after final submission.

7. Print the submitted form. Attach self-attested copies in the same order as the form. Bind or tag the set and number every page. Loose sheets will not be taken.

8. Superscribe the envelope with post name, discipline, School and Advt. No. 01/2026/ACD.

9. Send it by Registered Post or Speed Post so that it reaches on or before 30 October 2026:

   Director, Academic Coordination Division
   Indira Gandhi National Open University
   Maidan Garhi, New Delhi – 110068

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Sending the hard copy without first submitting the online form.
• Using an OBC-NCL certificate that is not issued between 01 April 2026 and the online last date, or that is not valid for Central Government jobs.
• Claiming teaching experience for the Ph.D. years without a “no-leave” proof.
• Uploading publication lists without the journal cover and contents page.
• Assuming the 2022 or 2023 IGNOU form is still live. Those applicants must file a fresh 2026 form.

आईजीएनओयू शिक्षण भर्ती 2026: संक्षेप में जानकारी

यह भर्ती क्या है? इंदिरा गांधी राष्ट्रीय मुक्त विश्वविद्यालय, मैदान गढ़ी, नई दिल्ली ने विज्ञापन संख्या 01/2026/एसीडी के तहत प्रोफेसर, एसोसिएट प्रोफेसर और सहायक प्रोफेसर के पदों पर सीधी भर्ती निकाली है। आधिकारिक तालिका में 21 प्रोफेसर, 16 एसोसिएट प्रोफेसर और 6 सहायक प्रोफेसर पद हैं। इनमें पिछली भर्ती के एससी, एसटी और ओबीसी बैकलॉग पद भी शामिल हैं। यह केंद्रीय विश्वविद्यालय की नियमित शिक्षण सेवा है, ठेका पद नहीं।

कौन आवेदन कर सकता है? सामान्य विषयों में योग्यता यूजीसी विनियम 2018 के अनुसार है। प्रोफेसर के लिए पीएचडी, दस शोध पत्र और लगभग दस वर्ष का अनुभव चाहिए। एसोसिएट प्रोफेसर के लिए पीएचडी, मास्टर में 55 प्रतिशत अंक, आठ वर्ष का अनुभव और सात शोध पत्र चाहिए। सहायक प्रोफेसर के लिए मास्टर में 55 प्रतिशत अंक के साथ नेट या योग्य पीएचडी चाहिए। स्वास्थ्य विज्ञान और नर्सिंग पदों पर एमसीआई/एनएमसी या नर्सिंग परिषद के अलग नियम लागू हैं। अधिकतम आयु अधिसूचना में नहीं लिखी गई है। योग्यता की अंतिम तिथि ऑनलाइन आवेदन की अंतिम तिथि है।

आवेदन कैसे करें? ऑनलाइन फॉर्म 20 सितंबर 2026 से खुलेगा। अंतिम तिथि 20 अक्टूबर 2026 है, या रोजगार समाचार में प्रकाशन के 30 दिन बाद, जो बाद में हो। सामान्य, ओबीसी और ईडब्ल्यूएस के लिए शुल्क 500 रुपये है। एससी, एसटी और दिव्यांग उम्मीदवारों से शुल्क नहीं लिया जाएगा। भरी हुई फॉर्म की बंधी हुई हार्ड कॉपी 30 अक्टूबर 2026 तक निदेशक, शैक्षणिक समन्वय प्रभाग, आईजीएनओयू, मैदान गढ़ी, नई दिल्ली-110068 तक पंजीकृत या स्पीड पोस्ट से पहुंचनी चाहिए। लिफाफे पर पद, विषय, स्कूल और विज्ञापन संख्या जरूर लिखें। तकनीकी समस्या पर helpdeskacd@ignou.ac.in पर मेल करें।

How Are Candidates Selected?

There is no written examination. Applications are screened on UGC 2018 academic scores. Final selection is based on interview performance, subject to document verification and the reservation roster.

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.

Mere fulfilment of minimum qualification does not guarantee an interview call.

Why Does IGNOU Delhi Matter?

IGNOU is India’s national open university, created by Act No. 50 of 1985. Headquarters sit at Maidan Garhi, New Delhi. The university runs undergraduate, postgraduate, diploma, certificate and doctoral programmes through open and distance learning and online modes, with a wide regional centre network.

Faculty here design self-learning material, run counselling and assessment, and support learners who cannot join a regular campus. The work is academic, but the student load and writing-editing cycle differ from a conventional college.

Also Read: ESIC Delhi Professor, Associate Professor & Assistant Professor Recruitment 2026 – Walk-in for 53 Posts

One honest limit: several seats in this advertisement are single reserved posts. If your category or specialisation does not match the exact cell, there is no second vacancy in that subject.

People search “IGNOU faculty recruitment”, “IGNOU professor vacancy” and “IGNOU career” because the pay is central 7th CPC and the brand is national. They also ask whether ODL teaching is “real” university work. It is statutory university teaching, with a heavier course-writing and learner-support load than a typical classroom department.

Analyst’s Take

This is a serious central-university faculty drive, not a mass exam like UGC-NET itself. Competition will be publication-heavy. For Professor and Associate Professor, the research score and the documentary proof of pay during experience years will decide who even reaches the room.

Compare it with Jamia Millia Islamia Teaching Recruitment 2026 (Advt. 01/2026-27 (T), 46 teaching posts, online last date 6 October 2026). JMI is also Delhi-based and interview-led. IGNOU’s last date is later, but you must still land a hard copy by 30 October 2026. JMI’s mix includes engineering departments; IGNOU’s mix is ODL schools such as Continuing Education, Translation Studies and Health Sciences.

Skip this if you only have a fresh Master’s and NET and hoped for a large Assistant Professor roster. Only six AP posts are on the table.

Practical tip: Build the hard-copy file while you fill the form. Number pages to match the online entries. Screening committees reject files that cannot prove pay for the years claimed.

Documents Required

Keep self-attested copies for upload and for the bound hard copy:

• Printout of the submitted online form
• Proof of date of birth
• Degree and marksheets (Bachelor’s, Master’s, M.Phil., PhD.)
• NET/JRF certificate, if applicable
• Experience certificates with pay scale and gross pay, appointment letters, Form 16 or payslips, promotion orders
• Publication reprints plus journal cover and contents page
• Research score calculation sheets as per the appendix
• Category certificate: SC/ST/EWS/OBC-NCL (FY 2026-27, Central format) / PwBD (40% or above)
• NOC and vigilance clearance (for serving employees), at least by interview
• Proof of fee paid against Advt. 02/2022/ACD or 02/2023/ACD, if claiming exemption
• Valid photo ID for interview (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. State-only OBC papers are a common rejection reason.

Document alert: Disability certificate must be from a competent government authority. Only 40% and above can claim a PwBD reserved post.

Service Conditions

The posts are direct recruitment on Academic Levels 10, 13A and 14. The notification does not fix probation months, bond amount or pension scheme in the advertisement text.

Central university teachers ordinarily serve under UGC and Government of India service rules, with NPS for new joiners unless a later order says otherwise. That detail should be read in the offer letter, not assumed from this article.

Jurisdiction of any recruitment dispute is Delhi.

The University may change eligibility, post numbers or criteria, or leave a post unfilled, without assigning reasons. Corrigenda will appear only on ignou.ac.in.

What Happens After Selection?

1. Interview call: Sent only to the email given in the form. Carry originals and a photocopy set.
2. Document verification: Category, experience pay-proof and publication claims are matched with the form.
3. Offer letter: Issued if the Selection Committee recommends you and the roster is clear. The University can withdraw an offer if a credential error is found later.
4. Joining at Maidan Garhi: Faculty work is based at IGNOU Headquarters in New Delhi unless a later order posts you elsewhere. No choice of first location is mentioned.
5. Probation and confirmation: Follow IGNOU statutes and UGC rules after joining. Those periods are not numbered in this advertisement.

Contact and Helpline

The University will not handle interim queries on the selection process. Postal delay is the applicant’s risk.

Important Links – IGNOU 2026

FAQs – IGNOU Teaching Recruitment 2026

What is the last date to apply for IGNOU faculty posts 2026?

20 October 2026 for the online form, or 30 days from Employment News publication, whichever is later. The hard copy must reach Maidan Garhi by 30 October 2026. No extension is announced as of 19 September 2026.

What is the age limit for IGNOU Professor and Assistant Professor posts?

Not mentioned in the notification. There is no printed upper or lower age in Advt. 01/2026/ACD. Eligibility is decided on degrees and experience as on the online closing date.

Is there an exam for IGNOU teaching recruitment, or is it interview-based?

No written exam. Applications are screened on UGC academic scores. Up to 15 candidates may be called per Professor post. Final selection is based on interview performance, then document verification.

What is the salary of IGNOU Professor and Assistant Professor?

Professor starts at Academic Level 14 basic ₹1,44,200. Associate Professor is Level 13A basic ₹1,31,400. Assistant Professor is Level 10, basic ₹57,700. DA, HRA and other central allowances are extra.

Can final-year students or result-awaited candidates apply for this recruitment?

No. You must hold the essential qualification on the last date of online application. Extra papers sent after that date are not considered.

Is an IGNOU Professor or Assistant Professor post a permanent government job?

Yes. This is direct recruitment to regular teaching posts in a central university. It is not a contractual or guest-faculty notice. NPS and probation details will come with the offer, not in this advertisement.

Can candidates from other states apply for IGNOU recruitment?

Yes. This is an all-India advertisement. Indian applicants who meet UGC or MCI/NMC norms can apply. Reservation follows the Central list, not a state domicile quota.

Where will I be posted if selected for an IGNOU teaching post?

At IGNOU, Maidan Garhi, New Delhi, as the posts are in Schools of Studies at Headquarters. No other city list is given in the advertisement.

Do I need to send a hard copy after the online form?

Yes. Online submission alone is not enough. A bound, page-numbered printout with self-attested papers must reach the Director, ACD, by 30 October 2026 by Registered or Speed Post.

I applied in 2022 or 2023. Is that form still valid?

No. You must apply afresh against 01/2026/ACD with updated information. The earlier fee can be adjusted only if you upload proof of that payment.

Is IGNOU faculty recruitment worth applying for compared with JMI?

Yes, if you already match the exact discipline and category cell. JMI’s 2026 teaching drive has 46 posts and an earlier online closing date. IGNOU gives a longer online window but adds a hard-copy deadline.

What if my OBC certificate is from last year?

Be aware that OBC-NCL must be for FY 2026-27, issued from 01 April 2026 up to the online last date, and valid for Central Government jobs. An old or state-only certificate can get the form rejected.

What are the disadvantages of working as IGNOU faculty?

The trade-off is ODL work: heavy course writing, counselling and assessment rather than a full-time classroom cohort. Several subjects have only one reserved vacancy, so a near-miss in category or specialisation ends the chance in this cycle.

Final Checklist – Is This the Right Job for You?

• You meet the educational and experience rules as on the online closing date.
• You are comfortable with Regular Government Service in an open university at New Delhi.
• You can arrange publications, pay for experience papers and obtain a valid category certificate before the hard-copy deadline.
• You are prepared for the most demanding stage: documentary screening, then an interview (no written exam).
• You understand the posting is at IGNOU Headquarters, Maidan Garhi, New Delhi.

📄 Source: Official notification released by IGNOU on 19 September 2026. All details below are sourced from the IGNOU official notification PDF.