In the context of Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), the Control Number is a unique 11-digit number assigned to a student when a student submits an online application for a specific course or program at the IGNOU Online Admission Portal. This number serves multiple purposes during the application process and enrollment process at IGNOU, providing seamless management and proper tracking of student records at IGNOU.

When a student submits his/her application form to any IGNOU Regional Centre/ Study Centre (through online or offline mediums), an 11-digit Control Number is generated and assigned to the form. This number is very important for multiple reasons -

• Tracking and Reference - The 11-digit Control Number allows both IGNOU and the applicant to track the status of the application (mainly admission at an IGNOU institute). If there are any queries or problems regarding the application, the Control Number can be used to instantly find the specific form in the IGNOU’s University Database.
• Identification Purpose - The Control Number works as a specific identification code, preventing any confusion with other IGNOU students. This is specifically important for a large educational institute like IGNOU, which manages the track records of a large number of applicants.
• Communication Purpose - The 11-digit Control Number is often required for any type of communication with the university (IGNOU), whether it is for any queries, assistance, or a continuation. This assures that the university’s staff can help the student effectively by referring them to the correct application.