Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), Maidan Garhi, New Delhi, has released Advertisement No. 01/2026/ACD dated 19th September 2026, inviting online applications for direct recruitment to the teaching posts of Professor, Associate Professor and Assistant Professor. The vacancies are spread across 14 Schools of Studies, covering disciplines ranging from English and Anthropology to Nursing, Environmental Studies, and Visual Arts.
IGNOU Faculty Recruitment 2026 also includes backlog vacancies of SC, ST and OBC categories advertised in earlier years. Candidates who had applied against the university’s previous Advertisement No. 02/2022/ACD dated 31st December 2022 and Advertisement No. 02/2023/ACD dated 15th October 2023 will need to apply afresh with updated information, though they are exempted from paying the application fee again on submission of proof of their earlier fee payment.
Also read: Dibrugarh University faculty recruitment 2026: Apply for various teaching positions
Vacancy Details
IGNOU Faculty Recruitment 2026 covers various posts, divided among Professor, Associate Professor and Assistant Professor cadres across 14 Schools of Studies. The table below gives the school-wise overview.
| School of Studies | Professor | Associate Professor | Assistant Professor |
|---|---|---|---|
| School of Humanities | 2 | 3 | – |
| School of Social Sciences | 2 | 1 | – |
| School of Sciences | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| School of Continuing Education | 3 | 4 | – |
| School of Management Studies | 1 | – | – |
| School of Health Sciences | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| School of Law | 1 | – | – |
| School of Journalism and New Media Studies | 1 | – | 2 |
| School of Tourism, Hospitality Service Sectoral Management | 1 | 1 | – |
| School of InterDisciplinary & Trans Disciplinary Studies | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| School of Social Work | 1 | 1 | – |
| School of Foreign Languages | 1 | 2 | – |
| School of Translation Studies and Training | 1 | – | – |
| School of Performing and Visual Arts | – | – | 1 |
| Total | 21 | 16 | 6 |
Note:
- Check the official website for category-wise posts under IGNOU Faculty Recruitment 2026
- The Associate Professor post in Home Science under the School of Continuing Education carries specialisations in Community Resource Management & Extension, Development Communication & Extension, Resource Management and Design Applications, Family Resource Management, and Fabric & Apparel Science/ Textiles & Clothing.
Pay Scale
| Post | Academic Level (7th CPC) | Pay Scale |
|---|---|---|
| Professor | Level 14 | Rs. 1,44,200/- – Rs. 2,18,200/- |
| Associate Professor | Level 13A | Rs. 1,31,400/- – Rs. 2,17,100/- |
| Assistant Professor | Level 10 | Rs. 57,700/- – Rs. 1,82,400/- |
Eligibility Criteria
- The minimum eligibility conditions for Professor, Associate Professor and Assistant Professor posts under IGNOU Faculty Recruitment 2026 shall be as per University Grants Commission (UGC) Regulations, 2018, and subsequent amendments thereto.
- Wherever applicable, norms of the concerned regulatory bodies such as NCTE and MCI will also apply. The cutoff date for determining eligibility conditions is the last date of receipt of online applications.
- Candidates are advised to check the detailed advertisement on the official IGNOU website for the discipline-wise qualification requirements.
Selection Procedure
- IGNOU will conduct teaching recruitment under IGNOU Faculty Recruitment 2026 through screening/shortlisting of applications, followed by an interview.
- The official recruitment information states that merely possessing the prescribed qualifications and experience does not automatically entitle a candidate to be called for an interview.
- Applications will be screened and shortlisted according to the prescribed criteria.
Selection Stages
- Application Screening: IGNOU will scrutinise the applications against the prescribed eligibility and shortlisting criteria.
- Shortlisting of Candidates: Only candidates shortlisted after screening will be called for the next stage. Meeting the minimum eligibility requirements alone does not guarantee an interview call.
- Personal Interview: Shortlisted candidates will be called for an interview before the appropriate Selection Committee. The recruitment is on a direct recruitment basis.
- Final Selection: The final appointment will be made in accordance with the applicable IGNOU recruitment rules, UGC Regulations and prescribed selection criteria.
Documents Required
According to the IGNOU Faculty Recruitment 2026, candidates applying for the teaching posts should keep the following documents ready:
- Educational qualification certificates and marksheets supporting the required qualifications.
- Experience certificates, wherever experience is prescribed for the post.
- Category certificate for candidates claiming SC/ST/OBC/EWS/PwBD reservation benefits.
- OBC (NCL) certificate for the current financial year 2026–27, issued between 1 April 2026 and the last date of online application, and valid for Union/Central Government jobs.
- PwBD certificate/document, wherever applicable, to support the disability reservation claim.
- Other certificates/documents supporting the eligibility and reservation claims mentioned in the application.
- Candidates who applied earlier against IGNOU Advertisement No. 02/2022/ACD or 02/2023/ACD must submit proof of their earlier fee payment if claiming exemption from the application fee.
Steps To Apply
- Visit the application portal by clicking on the link given below in the “Important Links” section.
- Register with the required basic details and create login credentials.
- Fill in the online Application Proforma with personal, academic and professional details.
- Upload the necessary documents supporting educational qualifications, experience and reservation category claims, as applicable.
- Pay the applicable application fee, unless exempted on account of a previous application against Advertisement No. 02/2022/ACD or 02/2023/ACD.
- Submit the completed online application and save/ print a copy for records.
- Send the hard copy of the printed application, along with self-attested copies of certificates/ documents, to the Director, Academic Coordination Division, IGNOU, Maidan Garhi, New Delhi-110068, through registered/ speed post before the last date.
Key Dates
| Events | Dates |
|---|---|
| Online Portal Opens | 20th September 2026 |
| Last Date For Online Application | 20th October 2026 (or 30 days from publication in Employment News, whichever is later) |
| Last Date For Receipt Of Hard Copy | 30th October 2026 |
Important Links
| Official Website |
| Eligibility criteria – Assistant Professor |
| Eligibility criteria – Associate Professor |
| Eligibility criteria – Professor |
| IGNOU Faculty Recruitment 2026 – Official PDF |
| Apply now |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the last date to apply for IGNOU Faculty Recruitment 2026?
The last date for submission of the online application is 20th October 2026, or 30 days from the date of publication of the advertisement in the Employment News, whichever is later.
What is the pay scale for Professor, Associate Professor and Assistant Professor posts at IGNOU?
Professor posts carry Academic Level 14 pay of Rs. 1,44,200/- to Rs. 2,18,200/-, Associate Professor posts carry Academic Level 13A pay of Rs. 1,31,400/- to Rs. 2,17,100/-, and Assistant Professor posts carry Academic Level 10 pay of Rs. 57,700/- to Rs. 1,82,400/-
What are the eligibility criteria for IGNOU Faculty Recruitment 2026?
The minimum eligibility conditions are as per UGC Regulations, 2018, and subsequent amendments, along with the norms of concerned regulatory bodies such as NCTE and MCI wherever applicable.
Do candidates who applied under the earlier IGNOU advertisements need to pay the application fee again?
Candidates who had applied against Advertisement No. 02/2022/ACD or 02/2023/ACD need to apply afresh with updated information but are exempted from paying the application fee again, subject to submitting proof of their earlier fee submission.
By when should the hard copy of the application reach IGNOU?
The hard copy of the printout of the online application, along with self-attested copies of necessary certificates/ documents, should reach the Director, Academic Coordination Division, IGNOU, Maidan Garhi, New Delhi-110068, through registered/ speed post on or before 30th October 2026.
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