IGNOU Launches MBA in Hindi and Odia, Paving the Way for Inclusive Management Education

New Delhi, June 17: In a major step towards implementing the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) has launched its flagship Master of Business Administration (MBA) programme in Hindi and Odia, making management education more inclusive and accessible across language barriers.

This initiative aligns with NEP 2020’s emphasis on multilingual education and the cognitive benefits of learning in one’s mother tongue. The move is aimed at broadening access to quality professional education for a diverse learner base, particularly those less proficient in English.

A Vision of Inclusion

IGNOU Vice-Chancellor Prof. Uma Kanjilal emphasized that the primary goal of the programme is inclusion. “While English remains the dominant language in management education, not every aspiring student is equally fluent in it. Hindi, being the most spoken language in India, was a natural choice. Odia followed due to our strong learner base in Odisha and previous success with translated course materials,” she said.

The launch marks the first phase of a larger plan to expand the programme into the remaining 22 scheduled Indian languages in the coming years.

A Collaborative, Tech-Driven Model

The MBA programme is part of the e-Kumbh initiative, a joint project of IGNOU and the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) aimed at offering free, outcome-based technical education in regional languages. A key technological enabler is AICTE’s Anuvadini—an AI-powered translation tool.

“All core materials are not merely translated but contextually adapted to meet regional linguistic and cultural needs, while maintaining academic rigor,” Prof. Kanjilal noted.

Buddha Chandrasekhar, CEO of the Anuvadini Foundation and CCO, AICTE, highlighted that the AI-backed translation offers 90–95% accuracy, with final validation by subject and language experts before uploading to the e-Kumbh portal.

Admissions and Delivery

The Hindi and Odia MBA programmes will begin from the July 2025 admission cycle. The initiative is expected to benefit a wide spectrum of learners, including:

• Working professionals in rural and semi-urban areas

• First-generation graduates

• Entrepreneurs

• Learners more confident in their native languages

IGNOU’s learner-centric multimedia delivery model will be followed, with printed and digital self-learning materials, online lectures, face-to-face counselling, and teleconferencing support—all available in Hindi and Odia. Examinations and evaluations will also be conducted in the chosen language.

Preparing Faculty and Academic Support

To meet faculty requirements, IGNOU will leverage its network of academic counsellors and collaborators who are proficient in Hindi and Odia. “We have years of experience in offering programmes in multiple languages, and we’re engaging with experts from universities and management institutes in relevant regions,” said Prof. Kanjilal.

Career Prospects and Economic Impact

The two-year MBA degree, structured into four semesters, offers core courses in Management and electives in Marketing, Finance, Human Resources, and Operations, along with a project work component. IGNOU’s flexible credit system allows learners to progress at their own pace.

“Graduates from this programme bring a unique advantage to employers targeting regional markets, making them highly employable in sectors like cooperative banking, agriculture, and small-scale industries,” said AICTE’s Chandrasekhar.

Echoing this, Prof. Bhimaraya Metri, Director of IIM Nagpur, noted that such regional-language MBAs are well-suited to India’s growing demand for skilled professionals and its aspiration for global leadership. He cited Japan’s successful use of native language in education and said that with tools like Anuvadini and digital twins, even international communication in native languages is becoming viable.

Looking Ahead

While elite institutes like IIMs currently find it impractical to offer MBA programmes in regional languages due to their pan-India student base, Prof. Metri revealed that localized programmes—such as a Marathi MBA in Pune—are being considered.

“Language is a medium, not a measure of merit,” concluded Prof. Kanjilal. “Multilingual education not only empowers students but also enriches the diversity and depth of the academic ecosystem. This initiative is a small but significant step in redefining access and excellence in management education.”