For the first time since its establishment, the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) appointed Professor Uma Kanjilal as its Vice-Chancellor — a milestone in the university’s four-decade history. This decision signals a progressive shift in leadership at one of the world’s largest open universities, known for shaping India’s distance education landscape. The appointment comes as IGNOU undertakes digital transformation and NEP 2020 reforms, crucial to its role in India’s Viksit Bharat@2