New Delhi: In a move aligned with National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) announced the launch of its MBA programmes in Hindi and Odia mediums, with corresponding study materials now available in both languages. This initiative is part of a larger collaboration with All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) under the E-Kumbh project, a national effort to translate core academic content into twelve Indian languages. Using AICTE’s advanced machine translation tool, Anuvadini, IGNOU successfully localised its MBA curriculum to better serve learners who prefer to study in their native languages.The university also plans to roll out MBA programmes in 10 more Indian languages, making a significant stride toward eliminating linguistic barriers in management education. “This initiative marks a milestone in our pursuit of educational equity,” said Mrutyunjay Behera, joint secretary, department of higher education, ministry of education. “By offering MBA programmes in regional languages, IGNOU is bringing professional education closer to the grassroots, in full alignment with NEP 2020’s emphasis on multilingual and inclusive education. This is more than a policy implementation, it’s a cultural transformation in education.”Professor Uma Kanjilal, vice-chancellor, IGNOU, expressed gratitude to the dignitaries and partners, adding, “Technology is the key enabler here, allowing us to create high-quality educational experiences across languages. Our mission is to ensure that no learner is left behind, regardless of their linguistic background.”Dr Abhay Jere, VC, AICTE, emphasised the transformative role of artificial intelligence in education. “We are entering a new era where AI is enabling real-time translation and localisation of content at an unprecedented scale. The Anuvadini tool represents a powerful step in making education truly borderless,” he said.
