Dr. S. Ganesan
Joji K Simon
Standing in long queue for purchase of Application –cum-Prospectus from college sale counter has become old story now. The chance of visiting, re-visiting the college/university premises is also missing now-a-days for pre-admission and admission process. Admission is open for 24 x 7 due to online mode processing. Having made the admission process open for 24-hours, still both the student and parents find some hardships, bottle-necks in using online platforms. In Andaman & Nicobar Islands, the college admission has been made online for centralized admission in any college (Common Online Admission Portal for colleges-CCAP). IGNOU has also made its admission, re-registration, exam form, entrance test application form etc. through online mode. While using the online mode, certain precautions, Dos & Don’ts is to be kept in mind.
For instance, which are the documents to be kept ready for uploading? How to correct the mistakes in the form submitted? etc. In general, the online admission process can have 3-phases:
1. Pre- Admission phase
(Surfing, reading the instructions, information gathering, etc)
2. Admission phase
(filling-up, editing, upload documents, submission, fee payment etc.)
3. Post-Admission phase
{confirmation of admission, collecting student I-card etc.).
The first phase is an activity for parents and students to survey various online admission sites; visit various university/ college website prospectus, placement possibilities etc. The more you read, you will be highly comfortable to apply online. The second phase needs technical support such as UPS/Inverter, good connection/speed for internet etc. Your computer knowledge and IT skills will help you to apply online. Here, your skilled friends, reliable internet café centre supports you. Arranging all the required documents as per site requirements is the pre-condition for preparation to apply online. The third phase is critical to remove your discrepancies in the form, uploading error-correction methods (edit), etc. will test your tolerance level. After crossing all these 3-important phases, finally you will land at your college/university for academic session. For first timers, the following inputs will be highly useful for online admission.
Technical Requirements (Software / Hardware)
• Browser should be current version of Fire Fox, Chrome
• Resolution of screen should be 1024 x 768 pixels
• Online application will not work in Internet Explorer version 11 and above
• Computer system connected to UPS, Printer ( of course, papers in Printer tray)
• Documents to be uploaded only in JPG format.
User Name & Password to Login
• First time applicants are advised to click the available programme tab on the homepage of the Online Admission System and select the desired programme and carefully read the details of programme including eligibility criteria, fee details, duration, etc.
a. You are also requested to download the Prospectus and read carefully the Rules of the University. You may also read some sections more than once.
b. Click on the button "REGISTER YOURSELF" that appears in the applicant login area and fill the required registration details.
c. Remember, while choosing your User Name, it must be in between 8 to 16 characters.
d. While choosing your password it must be alphanumeric and between 8 to 16 characters long.
e. After filling the mandatory information click the "SUBMIT" button.
f. Your username will be instantly sent to you via e-mail and SMS.
• Remember your Username and Password for subsequent login.
• If you have already registered i.e., you are an existing user, click the "LOGIN" button.
• To choose more than one course, apply separately.
Documents required for Uploading
• Scanned Photograph (less than 100 KB)
• Scanned Signature (less than100 /500 KB)
• Scanned copy of Age Proof (less tha100/500 KB)
• Scanned copy of relevant Educational Qualification (less tha100/500 KB)
• Scanned Copy of Experience Certificate (if any) (100 /500KB)
• Scanned Copy of Category Certificate, if SC/ST/OBC (less tha100/500 KB)
• Scanned Copy of BPL Certificate, if Below Poverty Line (less than 100/500 KB)
• Scanned copy of Aadhar card (less tha100/500 KB)
• Scanned copy of Bank Pass Book (less tha100/500 KB)
• Scanned copy of NCC/NSS/Sports Certificate etc. (less tha100/500 KB)
It is suggested to scan documents from your originals (clearly visible). Once you have uploaded the document, click the next button, you will get the Form preview option. Save/Print your form for future reference. Hard copy of form need not be submitted to college/university, unless stated.
Fee payment
• Credit Card (Master/Visa)
• Debit Card (Master/Visa/Rupay)
• Net Banking
•The status of payment may be checked from bank statement also. For college admission, on receipt of seat confirmation, you may pay the fee.
Error-Correction Methods
o Whenever any discrepancy in the application form is found, it is usually intimated to the learner by SMS and email by the administrator.
o Error correction can be done by clicking on the “Change LSC/Upload Document” option available at IGNOU Online Dashboard or can also be done by visiting the Regional Centre office with the original documents.
o Editing/formatting in the form can only be done before the payment is made. Editing is not possible after form submission.
Possibilities for Rejection
• If you don’t fulfill the minimum age requirement prescribed for the programme.
• Your Degree certificate uploaded with the application form is not recognized as per AIU/UGC/NCTE/AICTE/COBSE notification.
• As per certificates uploaded by you, you do not fulfill the eligibility criteria for admission.
• Your experience was not considered appropriate as per requirement for admission to the programme.
• Discrepancy intimated to you (by SMS, email, over phone call) has not been removed.
• If the document is not visible, the admission form will be rejected.
• Furnishing of correct in information/ suppression of information would lead to rejection of application.
Precautions
• Before typing the name and other details in the online form, write those details on paper so as to avoid typing mistakes.
• Note your login user name and password on a paper and keep it safely.
• If you have any doubt about your documents, eligibility etc, try to contact the administrative office or online site manager for help and assistance.
• Visit the authorized Common Service Centre (CSC) where the online application forms are submitted every day as a routine activity. It will avoid unnecessary huge payment to private internet café. IGNOU also has made tie-up with CSC across the country.
• Whenever you require any screen shot, please don’t hesitate to take screen shot of the desktop screen by your mobile camera, save it for your reference.
• Read refund of fee procedure.
After the last date of online submission, few day times may be given for off-line mode also. To discourage such ‘beyond cut date’ submission, the university/college may charge late fee on higher side. Every one of us experience and enjoy the flexibility and facility of easy admission process due to modern digital online process. At the same time, one need not under estimate the olden method of paper based admission application form method. The present technology driven world has made the admission easy to meet the heavy rush in college admission.
(The authors are Dr. S. Ganesan, Regional Director and Joji K. Simon, Assistant Executive (Data Processing) of IGNOU, Regional Centre, Port Blair and can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (M-8900936718}.