IGNOU’s drive for promoting inclusive education is strengthened by providing educational opportunities to jail inmates in the district and central jails located across the country. The University opened Learner Support Centres in jails beginning with the Central Jails i.e., Tihar Jail, New Delhi in 1994 and Sabarmati Jail Ahmedabad in 1995. As a specific intervention, the University announced its ‘Free Education for Prisoners’ initiative in the 2010 academic session and waived off fees for all jail inmates across the country who aspired to pursue the University’s programmes.

As on date there are, 177 IGNOU Special Centres in Jails across India.The Regional Centres undertake the responsibility of facilitating learning in Jail Centres.