IGNOU launches MBA in Hindi and Odia to break language barriers

In a significant step toward inclusive education, the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) has introduced its flagship MBA programme in Hindi and Odia. This move, announced on Monday, aligns with the goals of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which champions multilingual learning and broader access to professional courses.

The aim is clear: make management education more accessible to students who are more comfortable learning in their native languages. With these new offerings, IGNOU hopes to make business studies less intimidating and more relatable for learners from non-English-speaking backgrounds.

As part of the government’s E-Kumbh initiative, the programme benefits from



a partnership between IGNOU and the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE). Key academic materials have been translated into Hindi and Odia using “Anuvadini,” an AI-based tool developed by AICTE for educational content localisation.

AICTE Vice Chairman Dr Abhay Jere highlighted the transformative role of AI tools in removing language as a barrier to learning. IGNOU Vice Chancellor Prof. Uma Kanjilal affirmed the university’s commitment to inclusive education, revealing plans to launch MBA content in 10 more Indian languages in the future.

The multilingual MBA initiative is a step toward ensuring that no aspiring professional is left behind, regardless of their linguistic background.