Vice President C. P.

Radhakrishnan on Tuesday (April 7, 2026) attended the 39th convocation of Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), where he said the university, which has over 14 lakh learners, including 56% women and 58% from rural and disadvantaged communities, was a pillar of “India’s open and distance learning ecosystem”. Referring to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Vice President said that IGNOU has remained resilient due to its established distance-learning model and congratulated the University for effectively leveraging digital platforms like Swayam and e-Gyankosh to ensure uninterrupted learning and emerge as a leader in technology-enabled education. Asking students not to be afraid of development, Mr Radhakrishnan said, “When computers were introduced in the country, there were fears that they would take away jobs; however, they ultimately created more employment and contributed to national development.

Emerging tools like artificial intelligence can enhance learning experiences, improve student support and enable personalized learning. ” He said that modern development should go hand in hand with tradition and moral values ​​should guide scientific progress.

Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, Taranjit Singh Sandhu, who was present on the occasion, said that IGNOU has truly transformed education in India by breaking the barriers of distance, time and circumstance and reaching out to millions of learners across the country. “Today’s environment demands more than just a degree; it demands adaptability, skills and a willingness to keep learning.

Your degree is not the end of education; it is just the beginning,” Mr Sandhu told the students.