IGNOU invites entries for startup competition 2026 from students and alumni

Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) has started entries for a startup competition 2026 for its students and alumni. The competition is being organised by the Institution's Innovation Council (IIC) IGNOU, as part of its annual calendar activity.

According to a notification issued by the university's National Centre for Innovations in Distance Education (NCIDE), the IIC has been actively working to foster an "Atmanirbhar" self-reliant mindset by promoting, supporting, and nurturing those wanting to set up their own startups.

Since IGNOU has students and alumni spread across the entire country, this initiative helps discover talented entrepreneurs who might otherwise go unnoticed within such a large and widely spread community, said an official press release.

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IGNOU startup competition: Eligibility and application

All IGNOU students and alumni who have already set up a startup or an innovative business venture are eligible to participate. They are required to submit details of their venture as part of the competition process. The best startup award 2026 will be presented to the venture selected after the final pitching round.

The startup competition will be conducted in two rounds:

• In the first round, entries submitted through a Google form will be screened and shortlisted by an expert committee.

• In round 2, shortlisted students and alumni will be required to pitch their startup or business idea, following a template provided after the completion of the first round.

Interested students and alumni can submit their entries for the first round through the official Google form link: https://forms.gle/Eb6gWHMouh65wrzk6. The last date for submission is August 31, 2026. For any queries or clarifications, applicants can reach out via email at ncide@ignou.ac.in.