The Regional Services Division) was operationalized in 1986, with the mandate of developing policies, systems and procedures, establishing and managing student support system of the University comprising Regional Centres and Learner Support Centres. The University has set up a nation-wide network of 67 Regional Centres. These include nine Regional Centres in the North-East Region, six Army Recognized Regional Centres, four Navy Recognized Regional Centres and one Assam Rifle Recognized Regional Centre. This network of Regional Centres is managed by nearly 700 academic and administrative staff posted at Regional Centres. The Regional Centres being full time offices of the University oversee the operations of LSCs within their respective jurisdiction and also monitor academic and administrative support to distance learners.

IGNOU has established a vast network of nearly 2000 Learner Support Centres (LSCs) covering the remotest corners of the country. A large number of these LSCs are located in jails, slums, economically and educationally backward districts and remote rural areas, catering to the educational needs of the disadvantaged communities, which would otherwise have remained deprived. Academic support in the form of face-to-face academic counselling is provided to the learners at the LSCs. In addition, practical sessions, seminars, workshops, field based activities, extended contact programmes etc are organized as per the curricular requirement of various academic programmes. Library services are also made available.

The responsibilities and functions assigned to the Regional Services Division are as follows:

• To develop policies, systems and procedures in respect of establishment and management of Regional Centres and Learner Support Centres
• To organise and administer the national network of Regional Centres and Learner Support Centres
• To negotiate with Government Departments, educational institutions, other organisations including voluntary organisations for establishment of new Regional Centres and Learner Support Centres
• To identify and appoint suitable persons as Academic Counsellors for counselling, practicals and evaluation of assignments
• To organise orientation programmes for part-time functionaries of Learner Support Centres
• To organize induction and in-service training programmes for full time staff of Regional Centres.
• To regulate funding and expenditure control of Regional Centres and Learner Support Centres
• To ensure provisions of necessary furniture and equipment to RCs .
• To coordinate matters pertaining to Student Support Services between the Schools and Divisions in the Headquarters and between the RCs and LSCs.