Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) has officially announced B.Ed Admission for the January 2026 session, opening a major opportunity for aspiring and in-service teachers across India. IGNOU B.Ed is one of the most trusted and NCTE-recognized teacher education programmes, especially suitable for working professionals due to its Open and Distance Learning (ODL) framework.
Every year, thousands of candidates face confusion around eligibility, entrance exam rules, internship requirements, fees, and rejection reasons. This article solves all such problems in one place. If you are planning to apply for IGNOU B.Ed 2026, read this guide till the end before filling the form.
⚡ Quick Review – IGNOU B.Ed 2026 (At a Glance)
- 🎯 Programme Name: Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.)
- 🏛️ University: Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU)
- 📅 Session: January 2026
- 📝 Admission Mode: Entrance Test + Merit
- ⏳ Duration: Minimum 2 Years | Maximum 5 Years
- 🎓 Total Credits: 72
- 💰 Programme Fee: ₹60,000 (Entire Programme)
- 🌐 Application Mode: Online
- 🧾 Exam Duration: 2 Hours
- 🏫 Internship: Mandatory (20 Weeks Total)
- 📜 Recognition: NCTE Approved
- 🔞 Age Limit: No age bar
🏛️ About IGNOU & B.Ed Programme Credibility
IGNOU is a Central University established by an Act of Parliament, widely recognized for democratizing education in India. Its degrees are valid for all government and private jobs, and the B.Ed programme is approved by the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE), making it fully acceptable for teaching eligibility nationwide B.ED e-Prospectus and Applicati….
IGNOU B.Ed is particularly popular among:
- In-service teachers
- Professionally trained educators
- Candidates unable to attend regular colleges
📌 IGNOU B.Ed 2026 Eligibility Criteria (MOST IMPORTANT)
Many applications get rejected every year due to misunderstanding eligibility rules. Read this carefully.
🎓 Educational Qualification
You must have:
- At least 50% marks in Bachelor’s and/or Master’s Degree in:
- Sciences
- Social Sciences
- Commerce
- Humanities
OR
- Bachelor’s in Engineering/Technology with 55% marks, specializing in Science or Mathematics.
👩🏫 Who Is Eligible for B.Ed (ODL)?
Only the following candidates can apply:
- ✅ Trained in-service teachers in elementary education
- ✅ Candidates who have completed an NCTE-recognized teacher education programme through face-to-face mode
⚠️ Important Disqualifications (Common Mistakes):
- ❌ DELED / DPE completed through ODL mode is NOT accepted
- ❌ Two degrees pursued simultaneously → Not eligible
- ❌ Diploma overlapping with Graduation/Post-Graduation → Rejected
- ❌ Master’s degree without a 3-year bachelor’s degree → Invalid
🎯 Relaxation & Reservation
- 5% marks relaxation for SC / ST / OBC (NCL) / PwD
- EWS reservation as per Central Government rules
- Reservation for Kashmiri Migrants & War Widows
There is NO AGE LIMIT for IGNOU B.Ed admission
📝 IGNOU B.Ed Entrance Exam 2026
Admission is strictly based on Entrance Test performance.
🧠 Key Details
- Mode: Offline (Pen & Paper)
- Duration: 2 Hours
- Centres: All over India (subject to availability)
- Merit List: Prepared Regional Centre-wise
⚠️ Appearing in the entrance exam does NOT guarantee admission. Final admission depends on:
- Entrance score
- Document verification
- Seat availability at Programme Study Centre (PSC)
💻 Application Process & Important Dates
📅 Key Dates
- Application Start: 29 January 2026
- Last Date: 27 February 2026
- Exam Date: To be notified
- Application Mode: Online only
- Website: ignou.ac.in
💰 Entrance Exam Fee
- ₹1000 (Online payment only)
📝 Step-by-Step Application Process
- Visit the official IGNOU website – ignou.ac.in
- Click on the B.Ed Entrance Test 2026 admission link
- Register using a valid email ID and mobile number
- Fill in personal, educational, and professional details correctly
- Upload scanned copies of:
- Photograph
- Signature
- Educational certificates
- Teacher education / in-service certificate (if applicable)
- Select preferred examination centre (subject to availability)
- Pay the entrance exam fee of ₹1000 through online payment mode
- Submit the application form and download the confirmation page for future reference
⚠️ Important Application Instructions (Do Not Ignore)
- Apply only after final result declaration of qualifying degree
- Incorrect or false information may lead to cancellation even after selection
- Entrance exam fee once paid is non-refundable
- Keep all original documents ready for verification after merit list
💸 IGNOU B.Ed Fees Structure 2026
- Total Programme Fee: ₹60,000
- Fee is NOT paid with entrance form
- Fee is paid only after selection
- Payment Mode: Demand Draft (as instructed by IGNOU)
⚠️ Exam fee once paid is non-refundable under any circumstances
📌 Candidates can also check Exam Updates here
📚 IGNOU B.Ed Syllabus & Programme Structure
The programme is divided into two academic years with theory + practical + internship.
📘 First Year Structure
- Core Courses – 16 Credits
- Methodology Courses (Any 2) – 8 Credits
- Workshop I – 4 Credits
- EPC I & II – 4 Credits
- Internship I – 4 Credits
📕 Second Year Structure
- Core Courses – 12 Credits
- Optional Course – 4 Credits
- Workshop II – 4 Credits
- EPC III & IV – 4 Credits
- Internship II – 12 Credits
⏱️ Internship Requirement
- Total Internship: 20 Weeks
- Attendance is mandatory
- No leave is permitted during internship
- Internship must be done in upper primary / secondary / senior secondary schools
✅ Check IGNOU B.Ed Full Syllabus & Exam Pattern 2026 Here
🧪 Evaluation & Exam Pattern
📊 Marks Distribution
- Assignments: 30%
- Term-End Exam: 70%
🎯 Passing Criteria
- Minimum C Grade in each theory and practical
- Grade system from A (Excellent) to E (Fail)
📌 After Entrance Exam – What Next?
- Merit list will be prepared Regional Centre–wise
- Selected candidates will receive admission offer notification
- Programme fee is paid only after selection, not during form filling
❗ Common Problems Faced by IGNOU B.Ed Aspirants (Solved)
❓ “My DELED is from ODL, can I apply?”
➡️ No. NCTE mandates face-to-face teacher training only.
❓ “I did Diploma during Graduation, is it allowed?”
➡️ No. Overlapping qualifications lead to rejection.
❓ “Is IGNOU B.Ed valid for government teacher jobs?”
➡️ Yes. Fully NCTE & UGC recognized.
❓ “Can I change study centre later?”
➡️ Generally not allowed due to internship & practical constraints.
❓ “Is IGNOU B.Ed easy?”
➡️ Academically rigorous, especially due to internship & workshops.
🏁 Final Verdict: Should You Apply for IGNOU B.Ed 2026?
If you:
- Are a trained teacher or in-service educator
- Want a recognized B.Ed degree
- Can manage internships seriously
- Meet eligibility without overlap issues
👉 IGNOU B.Ed 2026 is absolutely worth applying for.
Before applying, double-check eligibility, especially teacher-training mode and overlapping degrees, as IGNOU strictly rejects ineligible candidates even after entrance qualification.
🌐 Important Links
- Official Notification pdf download
- Official Website: ignou.ac.in
📌 Candidates can also check for Admit card Updates here
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