IGNOU PGDDC / MADJ Project (MDCP-006): Guidelines, Synopsis Format, Guide Eligibility and Submission

MDCP-006 is the project work course for the IGNOU PG Diploma in Development Communication (PGDDC) and for the first year of the MA in Development Journalism (MADJ), as per the manual for the January 2025 batch onward. It carries 4 credits, which the manual puts at 120 hours of work. You can do it in one of two ways: an internship with an organisation, or a development-based research project under a supervisor. Both lead to a report that is evaluated with the term-end examination.

The MDCP-006 journey at a glance

The steps below follow the research project option, which needs a proposal and a supervisor. The green tag shows where HelpBooks supports you.

1. 1
   Choose internship or researchIGNOU does not arrange internships, so you must find your own host organisation if you pick Option 1.HelpBooks: help choosing the right option
2. 2
   Choose a development topicNarrow, about a development issue, and possible to study in your area.HelpBooks: 5–6 topic options for you
3. 3
   Find a supervisorThe supervisor agrees in writing to guide the project to completion, and a signed bio-data goes with your proposal.HelpBooks: supervisor and bio-data check
4. 4
   Prepare the proposal (about 4–5 pages) and Annexure ATwo typed copies signed by you, with objectives (three to six), methodology and expected outcomes.HelpBooks: proposal drafted with you
5. 5
   Send to the Programme Coordinator, PGDDC and MADJ (1st Year), SOJNMSBy Registered Post or Speed Post, with Project Proposal MDCP-006 written on the envelope. Approval is communicated by email within four weeks.HelpBooks: final check before posting

6. 6
   Collect data and write the report10,000 to 12,000 words, about 60–70 pages, in 4 to 5 chapters, in English.HelpBooks: full report support
7. 7
   Bind with the declarationsTwo hardbound copies in a black cover. Annexures B and C, the approved proposal and the supervisor’s remuneration bill go with it.HelpBooks: annexure checklist
8. 8
   Submit to the Student Evaluation DivisionOne copy with a cover letter to the Assistant Registrar (Project Section), SED, IGNOU, Maidan Garhi. Submitted copies are not returned.HelpBooks: address and envelope check
9. 9
   Evaluation with the term-end examReports submitted 1 January–30 June go with the June TEE, and 1 July–31 December with the December TEE.HelpBooks: support till marks

MDCP-006 at a glance

Figures are based on the MDCP-006 project manual. The manual has a few inconsistencies (for example in annexure labels and in how proposal windows are mapped to sessions), so confirm doubtful points with the Programme Coordinator. IGNOU revises its guidelines from time to time, so check the latest manual before you begin.

Who can be your MDCP-006 supervisor?

For the research option, the manual asks for a supervisor and does not set detailed qualification conditions. The proforma asks whether the supervisor is a PGDDC academic counsellor, and the supervisor must agree in writing to guide the project to completion. A complete, signed supervisor bio-data must be enclosed even if the supervisor is an IGNOU counsellor, otherwise the proposal will not be entertained. The supervisor’s remuneration bill goes with the final submission. For the internship option, the manual does not describe a supervisor requirement. HelpBooks mentors can check your supervisor documents against the manual before you post.

Choosing an MDCP-006 project topic

A good MDCP-006 topic is about a development issue, is narrow, and can be studied with the time and contacts you have. Some areas that work well:

• Health communication: how information about a scheme or campaign reaches people in your area
• Community media: community radio, local newspapers or social media pages and their audience
• Education and literacy: communication around school enrolment, digital learning or adult literacy
• Agriculture and rural development: how farmers receive information on schemes, prices or weather
• Gender and social issues: media coverage of women’s participation, safety or livelihood programmes

If you work with a newspaper, NGO, radio station or government office, a topic or an internship linked to your own organisation makes the work far easier. This is also the first thing our mentors look at when they suggest topics.

MDCP-006 proposal format

The proposal is about 4 to 5 pages, typed in two copies and signed by you. It contains:

• Project title
• Objectives (three to six)
• Issues or research questions
• Data required
• Hypotheses, if any
• Research methodology
• Expected outcomes

With it you send the proforma (Annexure A) with your enrolment number, study centre and regional centre codes, contact details, title and supervisor details, and the supervisor’s signed bio-data. The first page must show the course name and code, your enrolment number, and your study centre and regional centre. The title cannot be changed after submission, and the final report must match it exactly.

MDCP-006 project report structure

After approval, the report is built on the same title and plan. For the research option the manual gives this scheme:

• Chapter 1: Introduction, with objectives and problem statement
• Chapter 2: Review of Literature
• Chapter 3: Research Methodology (locale, sampling, instruments, statistical tools)
• Chapter 4: Results and Discussion
• Chapter 5: Summary and Conclusions
• References in APA style, and Appendices numbered in Roman numerals

The front matter includes the cover page, contents, lists of tables, figures and maps, acknowledgements, signed declarations, the approved proposal proforma, an abstract of about 100 words, an index and a list of abbreviations. Bind two hardbound copies in a black cover with embossed lettering. The report goes with the declaration forms (Annexures B and C for the research option), the supervisor’s remuneration bill and a cover letter.

Why MDCP-006 proposals and reports come back

• Supervisor bio-data missing, incomplete or unsigned
• Proforma not signed and dated by you and your supervisor
• Title changed after submission
• Objectives, questions and methodology that do not match each other
• Report that moves away from the approved proposal
• Declarations, approved proposal or remuneration bill missing from the final submission
• Copied or unoriginal work, which is disqualified
• Report written in a language other than English

If your proposal is not approved: send a revised proforma with a copy of the rejected proposal, the original proforma with the evaluator’s comments, and your allotted P.P. number. Our mentors can rework a returned proposal using the evaluator’s comments.

How HelpBooks mentors PGDDC and MADJ learners

Most learners who reach us have one of three problems: they cannot settle on a topic or host organisation, their proposal has come back once, or they have approval but do not know how to turn data into a 60–70 page report. Our mentors stay with you through the whole MDCP-006 journey, from the first topic list to the day your marks appear:

• 5–6 workable topic options based on your job, organisation and city, to discuss with your supervisor
• Proposal drafted with you to the MDCP-006 format, with the proforma and bio-data checked line by line before you post it
• Help with revisions if the evaluator returns your proposal
• After approval, support in building the full report on your approved proposal, with original writing, your own data and a plagiarism check
• A final check of the annexures, declarations and envelope before you send it to the Student Evaluation Division
• Support until your result is declared, including any changes the evaluator asks for

Starting MDCP-006 or stuck midway? WhatsApp us on 8800002552 with your stage, and we will tell you the next step. You can also read our step-by-step IGNOU project guide.

Common questions

Should I choose the internship or the research project?
Both are allowed. The internship needs a host organisation that you arrange yourself, while the research option needs a supervisor and an approved proposal. Choose the one you can complete properly in your situation.

How long does proposal approval take?
The manual says approval is communicated by email within four weeks of receipt.

Is there a viva for MDCP-006?
The manual does not mention a viva. The report is evaluated for 100 marks along with the term-end examination.

In which language should the report be written?
English only, as per the manual.

Can HelpBooks help if I have already started?
Yes. Many learners come to us after a returned proposal or with approval in hand. Share what you have, and we pick up from that stage.

HelpBooks is an independent academic support service and is not affiliated with IGNOU. Rules on this page are summarised from the MDCP-006 project manual; always follow the latest official guideline and your supervisor’s instructions.