Is It Mandatory to Attach the Question Paper in IGNOU Assignments?

When submitting IGNOU assignments, many students find themselves asking the same question —
“Do I have to attach the question paper too?”

Let’s clear this up first:

👉 There is no official IGNOU documentation that states attaching the question paper is mandatory.
IGNOU’s official assignment guidelines, including those published on ignou.ac.in and various regional centres, focus on essentials like:

• The assignment front page
• Handwritten answers
• Proper codes and enrolment details

None of them explicitly mention the need to attach the assignment question paper.

However, there’s a catch…
➡️ Almost all the IGNOU study centres and counsellors do recommend attaching the question paper, both for online and offline submissions. Some evaluators also prefer having it for easier cross-checking during evaluation.

What IGNOU Actually Requires (As per Official Guidelines)

Based on verified guidelines from IGNOU, the required components are:

• Properly filled front page of IGNOU assignment
• Correct course and assignment codes
• Handwritten responses
• Clear enrolment and programme details
• ID card copy (in some cases)

❌ No mention of attaching the question paper in any of these documents.

Why Some Study Centres Still Ask students to attach IGNOU assignment question papers before submission?

Even though it’s not officially mandatory, here’s why some centres encourage or request it:

• Helps evaluators quickly match answers to questions
• Reduces confusion in case of multiple assignments being submitted together
• Ensures students are referring to the correct session’s questions
• Used as a precautionary document in backlog or re-submission cases

Some study centres even print this instruction on their notice boards or include it in assignment checklists.

So, What Should You Do?

Follow this simple rule:

👉 If your study centre or counsellor tells you to attach the question paper, do it.
👉 If there’s no such instruction, it’s optional — not doing it won’t get your assignment rejected.

Still, adding it doesn’t harm — and might help.

❗ Final Tip

Don’t confuse “common practice” with “official rule.”
To stay safe, always:

• Read your regional/study centre’s latest instructions
• Attend your counselling sessions or join student WhatsApp groups
• Check IGNOU’s official assignment page for updates

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