IGNOU Handwritten Assignment Guide 2026-27: Format, Front Page, PDF & Submission

Quick Answer: An IGNOU handwritten assignment is a Tutor-Marked Assignment (TMA) you must write in your own handwriting and own words on A4 ruled paper, attach a proper front page, and submit to the Coordinator of your allotted Study Centre before the official last date. For the DECE programme, there are three compulsory assignments (one each for DECE-1, DECE-2, DECE-3), each carrying 100 marks. All three parts of each assignment are Section A (60 marks), Section B (20 marks), and Section C (20 marks) are must be submitted together. Always download the current-session PDF from the official IGNOU assignment portal and verify dates on www.ignou.ac.in before writing.

Official IGNOU Sources

Download Current Assignments by course-code (Student Services)

Know Your Status

Student Grievances (iGRAM)

Regional Services Division

Quick-Facts Table — IGNOU Handwritten Assignment 2026-27

Item	Rule (per current IGNOU TMA booklet)
Type	Tutor-Marked Assignment (TMA) — continuous evaluation
Weightage	3 compulsory assignments (DECE-1, DECE-2, DECE-3). Each = 100 marks: Section A 60 marks (theory) + Section B 20 marks (practical) + Section C 20 marks (practical). All 3 sections must be submitted together.
Paper	A4 size ruled paper
Left margin	Approx. 4 cm for evaluator comments
Ink	Blue or black ball pen
Writing	Own handwriting, own words — “Do not print or type the answers”
Front Page	Enrolment No., Name, Address, Programme, Course Code, Assignment Code, Study Centre, Date, Signature
Submission to	Coordinator of the allotted Study Centre
Proof	Stamped receipt + photocopy of every assignment
Last Date (June 2026 TEE)	Jan 2026 session: 30 September 2026 | July 2026 session: 30 March 2027. Always re-verify on the Current Assignments page and your Study Centre notice.
Validity	TMA marks accepted across eligible TEE cycles within the validity printed in your Programme Guide

Who This Guide Is For

• Newly admitted learners unsure whether IGNOU assignments must be handwritten or can be typed.
• ODL learners preparing course-wise handwritten copies for offline submission at their allotted Study Centre.
• Online-programme learners (iGNOU Online / Samarth LMS) who need clean scanned PDFs uploaded course-wise.

Note: After you read the official rules below, if you need IGNOU help-book / study-notes / solved-assignment PDFs, solved PYQs, solved guess papers to study from, you can WhatsApp +91 93546 37830.

What Is an IGNOU Handwritten Assignment?

An IGNOU handwritten assignment is a written set of answers to the Tutor-Marked Assignment (TMA) questions issued by IGNOU for each course you are registered in. Each course has its own TMA booklet on the official assignment portal, with questions, word limits, and a submission deadline.

The current TMA cover sheet for DECE-1 (January 2026 & July 2026) states: “Evaluation at IGNOU consists of two parts: i) continuous evaluation through assignments, and ii) term-end examination. In the final result, assignments of a Course will carry 100 marks per assignment: Section A (60 marks) + Section B (20 marks practical) + Section C (20 marks practical).”

Important: Your handwritten assignment is not optional — without a valid TMA submission, your course remains incomplete even if you write the TEE.

For a broader overview of how IGNOU assignments work across all programmes, read the complete IGNOU assignment guide.

Are IGNOU Assignments Handwritten or Typed?

For almost every IGNOU ODL course, the assignment must be handwritten in your own handwriting on A4 ruled paper. Typed or printed answers are not accepted. Online-programme learners may upload through the LMS — but in most cases the uploaded file is a scanned PDF of the handwritten pages. Always verify your specific programme’s instruction.

The DECE-1 (2026) TMA booklet states: “Answers should be in your own handwriting. Do not print or type the answers. Do not copy your answers from the study material sent to you by the University or from other learners. If you copy, you will get zero marks for the respective question.”

Online-programme learners (programmes through iop.ignouonline.ac.in and the Samarth LMS at lms.ignouonline.ac.in) may upload via the LMS — but in most cases the file uploaded is a scanned PDF of handwritten pages. Always follow the instruction your Regional Centre or LMS dashboard posts for your specific programme.

Official Rules Students Must Follow

These rules are taken from the current IGNOU TMA booklet (DECE-1, January 2026 & July 2026) and apply to virtually all courses. Always check your own TMA cover sheet for course-specific overrides.

1. Write in Your Own Handwriting

You must write every answer yourself, by hand. Printed, typed or photocopied submissions are rejected. The TMA cover sheet is explicit: answers must be in the student’s own handwriting. Inconsistent handwriting across a set may also be queried.

2. Write in Your Own Words

“Do not copy your answers from the study material sent to you by the University or from other learners. If you copy, you will get zero marks for the respective question.” Read the unit, plan the answer, then paraphrase in your own language.

3. Use A4 Ruled Paper with a ~4 cm Left Margin

“Use A4 size ruled paper for your response and tie all the pages carefully. Allow a four cm margin on the left and leave some space between each answer.” The margin is reserved for the evaluator’s comments.

4. Keep One Course per Assignment Set

Each course code has its own TMA. Never mix courses in one file or one PDF. Each set must have its own front page.

5. Submit Only to the Coordinator of Your Allotted Study Centre

“The completed assignment should be sent only to the Coordinator of the Study Centre allotted to you.” Do not post it to a Regional Centre, the Student Evaluation Division, or IGNOU HQ unless an official notice specifically tells you to.

6. Keep Proof of Submission

“Please obtain a receipt from the study centre for the assignments submitted and retain it. Also keep a photocopy of the assignments with you.”

Acceptable proof: stamped Study Centre receipt; upload confirmation; email acknowledgement; screenshot of portal submission; courier receipt if officially permitted.

7. Verify Dates on the Official IGNOU Site

Every TMA booklet carries the line: “Please check the dates from www.ignou.ac.in.” Never trust a third-party deadline screenshot — verify on the IGNOU Current Assignments page close to your submission day.

How to Download the Correct IGNOU Assignment PDF

The correct PDF is the current-session TMA for your exact course code. Older PDFs are not accepted.

1. Open the official IGNOU Assignment Portal: https://webservices.ignou.ac.in/assignments/
2. Choose your programme category — Master’s Degree, Bachelor’s Degree, P.G. Diploma, Diploma, Certificate, P.G. Certificate, or Appreciation Programmes.
3. Drill down to your programme and click the course code (e.g., DECE-1, MMPC-001).
4. Open the PDF and confirm on the cover: the session (e.g., “January 2026 & July 2026”) and Assignment Code (e.g., “DECE-1/TMA-1/2026”).
5. Cross-check on the Current Assignments page. The table lists the June and December TEE due dates per course and instructs: “Check the validity of the assignment before downloading.”

Note: If you cannot locate the right course code or session, WhatsApp +91 93546 37830 with your enrolment number and programme — we will point you to the official PDF.

For free official study material, also read how to download IGNOU study material from eGyankosh.

IGNOU Handwritten Assignment Front Page Format

The front page is the first page of every TMA set. Without it, the Study Centre can refuse the file or your marks may not be recorded.

Required Details Table

Field	What to Write	Example
Enrolment Number	Your 9-10 digit IGNOU ID	2001218290
Full Name	As per IGNOU records	Rahul Sharma
Address	Complete postal address + PIN	—
Programme Code & Title	E.g., DECE, MBA, MCOM, BCOMF, Bachelor of Arts (General)	DECE
Course Code & Title	E.g., DECE-1 Organizing Child Care Services	DECE-1
Assignment Code	As printed on the TMA booklet	DECE-1/TMA-1/2026
Study Centre Code & Name	Your allotted LSC	2901
Regional Centre	The RC your LSC reports to	RC Delhi-1
Session	January 2026 / July 2026	January 2026
Mobile + Email	Working contact details	—
Date of Submission	Date of hand-over	25 March 2026
Signature	Pen signature	—

Sample Layout

• Top-right block: Enrolment Number, Name, Address, Signature, Date.
• Top-left block: Programme Title, Course Code, Course Title, Assignment Code, Study Centre.

Some Regional Centres publish their own front-page template. If your RC has one, use that first.

Common Front-Page Mistakes

• Wrong enrolment-number digit.
• Old session printed (e.g., 2025-26 instead of 2026-27).
• Missing Assignment Code.
• One front page used for multiple courses.
• Forgotten student signature.

For a downloadable template, visit the IGNOU assignment front page format page.

How to Write the Assignment Properly

• Plan. Read each question carefully and note the word limit printed on the TMA.
• Outline. From the IGNOU SLM (blocks) and your help book, build a quick point-wise plan: introduction, body, conclusion.
• Write neatly in blue or black pen. Single-underline key terms. Avoid red and green — those are evaluator colours.
• Number each answer with the question number from the TMA booklet.
• Leave the ~4 cm left margin and a line of space between answers.
• Stay within the word limit. Short, focused answers usually score better than padded ones.
• Add diagrams, examples, and case references where the syllabus calls for them.
• Tie or staple pages course-wise; do not mix subjects.

Watch: IGNOU Handwritten Assignment — Video Walkthrough

Reading the rules is one thing; seeing a handwritten assignment set actually prepared makes them easier to follow. The video below is a visual walkthrough of the IGNOU handwritten assignment — how a properly presented A4 page and front page look, and the small presentation details that help a set get accepted without back-and-forth at the Study Centre. Watch it alongside the step-by-step rules above.

Prefer to have the whole set written for you and couriered ready to submit? Neatly handwritten, correctly formatted IGNOU assignments are available on WhatsApp: +91 93546 37830. You still get all the official rules above free — the video and this guide stay useful whether you write it yourself or order it.

Study Support: Want subject-wise IGNOU help books, solved assignment PDFs, guess papers, or PYQs to study from before writing your assignment? WhatsApp +91 93546 37830.

How to Scan the Assignment and Make One PDF

If your Regional Centre or online programme requires upload, your handwritten pages must be converted into a clean, single PDF per course.

1. Scan with a phone app (Adobe Scan, Microsoft Lens, CamScanner) in B&W or grayscale.
2. One course = one PDF. Do not bundle multiple subjects in one file.
3. Order of pages: front page → TMA question paper (if RC asks for it) → handwritten answers in question-number order.
4. File-name convention: EnrolmentNumber_CourseCode_Session.pdf — e.g., 2001218290_DECE1_Jan26.pdf. Avoid spaces and special characters.
5. Size: keep under the limit your RC specifies (typically 50-100 MB). Reduce DPI or scan in grayscale if the file is heavy.
6. Check orientation and clarity before upload. Blurry or rotated scans get rejected.

How to Submit Your IGNOU Handwritten Assignment

A. Offline (Most ODL Learners)

• Print or hand-write the front page; attach to each course’s set.
• Visit your allotted Study Centre (LSC) — not any other LSC.
• Hand the set to the Coordinator / Assignment In-charge.
• Collect the stamped acknowledgement slip. Keep a photocopy of every page for your records.

B. Online via Regional Centre Link (When Your RC Announces It)

• Check your Regional Centre’s website for a current-session assignment-submission notice (often a Google Form or upload link).
• Upload scanned PDFs course-wise as instructed.
• Save the confirmation email or portal screenshot.

Important: Many RCs warn that learners from other RCs should not submit through their link. Use only the link posted by your Regional Centre.

C. Online via LMS (iGNOU Online Programmes)

• Log in to lms.ignouonline.ac.in with your Samarth credentials.
• Open the relevant course → assignment activity → upload the PDF.
• Save the submission confirmation.

D. Always Keep Proof

• Stamped receipt from LSC (offline submission), or
• Confirmation email / portal screenshot (online submission).
• Plus a photocopy or scan of every submitted page.

For a complete step-by-step walkthrough, read the how to submit IGNOU assignment online and offline guide.

Last Date and How to Verify It Safely

IGNOU revises assignment deadlines almost every session and the Student Evaluation Division (SED) frequently issues extensions. Never assume an old date is still valid.

June 2026 TEE — Verified Date: Per the SED notification dated 4 May 2026 (ref. IG/SED/Assignment/TEE/June-2026), the last date for assignment submission (both hard copy and soft copy) for the June 2026 TEE — for ODL, Online programmes, GOAL and EVBB — has been extended to 30 September 2026 (Jan session) / 30 March 2027 (July session). For the December TEE cycle, re-verify the official date on www.ignou.ac.in at least 7 days before you plan to submit.

Safe Verification — Three Places

• Your course’s TMA booklet cover sheet.
• The Current Assignments table on www.ignou.ac.in — it lists course-wise due dates for June and December TEE.
• SED notifications on www.ignou.ac.in and your Regional Centre’s news page.

After submitting your assignment on time, download your IGNOU hall ticket for Term-End Examination to appear in the TEE.

Common Mistakes That Cause Rejection or Delay

Mistake	Why It Causes Problems	Fix
Typed / printed answers	Violates the TMA rule “Do not print or type”	Rewrite in your own handwriting
Old-session question paper	Assignment validity expired	Download current-session PDF from the official portal
Copy-paste from SLM or another student	“If you copy, you will get zero marks for the respective question”	Paraphrase in your own words
Mixing two courses in one file	Evaluator cannot route the marks	One course = one PDF / one stapled set
Missing front page or signature	Set cannot be tagged to your enrolment number	Use the front-page template above
Wrong study-centre submission	Your allotted LSC has no record of it	Submit only to your allotted LSC
No acknowledgement kept	No proof if marks are not updated	Always collect and store the receipt
Red / green ink, or pencil	Reserved for evaluators	Use blue or black ball pen only
Oversized scanned PDF	Upload fails on RC link / LMS	Compress; scan in grayscale at lower DPI
Guessing the last date	You may miss the submission cycle	Verify on www.ignou.ac.in (three places listed above)

What to Do If Your IGNOU Assignment Status Is Not Updated

It typically takes 35-40 days for assignment marks to appear in the grade card after submission. It often runs longer near exam season. If it has been longer than expected:

• Wait for the normal evaluation cycle. Do not resubmit unless officially instructed.
• Keep your stamped receipt or online-submission confirmation ready.
• Email your Study Centre Coordinator with enrolment number, programme code, course code, submission date and proof attached.
• Escalate to the Regional Centre if there is no response within 15 days.
• File a formal grievance on iGRAM — choose category “Assignment” and sub-category “Non-updation of Marks”. Note the Token Number.
• For non-incorporation of assignment marks specifically, IGNOU also lists assignment@ignou.ac.in and the Student Service Centre numbers 011-29572513 / 011-29572514.
• For a detailed walkthrough, see how to file an IGNOU iGRAM grievance.
• After the evaluation cycle, you can check your IGNOU assignment result and marks on the official portal.
• Once marks are updated, you can track your IGNOU TEE result and grade card status here.

Final Checklist Before Submission

✅  Correct, current-session TMA downloaded from the official IGNOU portal. ✅  Front page filled with all required details (enrolment No., course code, study centre, session, signature). ✅  Every answer written in your own handwriting and own words. ✅  A4 ruled paper, ~4 cm left margin, blue or black ink used. ✅  Questions numbered exactly as in the TMA booklet. ✅  One course = one set / one PDF; pages tied or stapled. ✅  Photocopy or scan of every page kept with you. ✅  Submitted to the Coordinator of the allotted Study Centre / uploaded via the correct RC link or LMS. ✅  Stamped receipt or online confirmation saved. ✅  Submission date is before the deadline verified on www.ignou.ac.in. Still wondering whether assignments are worth the effort? Read why IGNOU assignment marks matter before your next submission.

Frequently Asked Questions — IGNOU Handwritten Assignment

1. Is the IGNOU handwritten assignment compulsory?

Yes. For nearly every IGNOU course you must submit a valid Tutor-Marked Assignment before the term-end examination. The course result is treated as incomplete without it. The current TMA booklet clearly states submission within the stipulated time is required to be eligible to appear in the TEE.

2. Can I type my IGNOU assignment instead of writing by hand?

No — not for ODL programmes. The TMA booklet states: “Answers should be in your own handwriting. Do not print or type the answers.” Online-programme learners may upload via the LMS, but the upload itself is generally a scanned PDF of handwritten pages. Always check your specific programme’s instruction.

3. What paper size does IGNOU recommend?

The current TMA booklet specifies: “Use A4 size ruled paper for your response and tie all the pages carefully.” Ruled A4 is the standard the booklet explicitly mentions.

4. How much margin should I leave?

“Allow a four cm margin on the left and leave some space between each answer.” The margin is reserved for the evaluator’s comments.

5. What ink should I use?

Blue or black ball pen. Red and green inks are reserved for evaluators; pencil is not accepted for the main text.

6. Where do I submit the handwritten assignment?

“The completed assignment should be sent only to the Coordinator of the Study Centre allotted to you.” Do not send it to a Regional Centre, the SED, or IGNOU HQ unless an official notice tells you to.

7. What if my Study Centre has been changed?

Per the TMA booklet: “In case you have requested for a change of Study Centre, you should submit your Tutor Marked Assignments only to the original Study Centre until the change of Study Centre is notified by the University.”

8. What is the weightage of the IGNOU assignment in the final result?

“In the final result, assignments of a Course will carry 100 marks per assignment: Section A (60 marks) + Section B (20 marks practical) + Section C (20 marks practical).”

Conclusion

The IGNOU handwritten assignment carries 100 marks per assignment and all three sections must be submitted together. Whether your TEE result is treated as complete. If you (1) write in your own handwriting and own words, (2) use A4 ruled paper with the ~4 cm left margin, (3) attach a correctly filled front page, (4) submit one set per course to the Coordinator of your allotted Study Centre, (5) keep your stamped receipt and a photocopy, and (6) verify the deadline on www.ignou.ac.in — you are following the rules exactly as the current IGNOU TMA booklet prescribes.

If your status does not update after 35-40 days, escalate through the iGRAM portal — that is the official channel.

Study Support (WhatsApp): For IGNOU help books, solved-assignment PDFs for reference, guess papers, PYQs and project guidance, WhatsApp +91 93546 37830 (Mon-Sat). Please write your own final answers — that is the only safe path with IGNOU.