Karnal: Dr. Dharam Pal, Regional Director, IGNOU, informed that Prof. Uma Kanjilal, Vice-Chancellor of Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), has been honored with the prestigious Prof. G. Ram Reddy Award for Excellence in Distance Education for the year 2025.
The award was presented by Prof. Ghanta Chakrapani, Vice-Chancellor of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Open University (BRAU), on December 4, 2025, which also marks the birth anniversary of Prof. G. Ram Reddy, a visionary and pioneer in the field of distance education in India.
The award recognizes Prof. Kanjilal's outstanding contributions to open and distance learning (ODL), her leadership in promoting technology-based education, and her commitment to expanding access to quality higher education in accordance with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
To mark this occasion, BRO and the Prof. G. Ram Reddy Memorial Trust jointly organized the annual Prof. G. Ram Reddy Memorial Lecture, celebrating the legacy of the renowned educationist whose work laid the foundation for the open university system in India.
Prof. G. Ram Reddy's contributions to higher education are widely respected. He played a key role in the establishment of India's first open university, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Open University, where he served as the founding Vice-Chancellor.
His visionary leadership later guided the establishment of IGNOU in New Delhi, where he became the University's first Vice-Chancellor and the architect of a system that has since empowered millions of learners through flexible, inclusive, and lifelong learning.
IGNOU Regional Centre, Karnal congratulates Prof. Uma Kanjilal on receiving this prestigious honor, which reflects the University's continued commitment to innovation, inclusivity, and excellence in distance education.