IGNOU MA Development Studies Project (MDVP-117): Guidelines, Synopsis Format, Guide Eligibility and Submission

MDVP-117 project? HelpBooks will guide you from topic to marks

Our project mentors work with IGNOU postgraduate learners on proposals and reports every session. You get one team that stays with you through every stage:

  • Topic options based on your job, organisation, village or city
  • Project proposal drafted with you, proforma and supervisor bio-data checked before posting
  • Full report support on your approved proposal, original and plagiarism-checked
  • Help with revisions until your result is declared
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MDVP-117 is the project work course of the IGNOU MA Development Studies (MADVS) programme, offered by the School of Extension and Development Studies (SOEDS). It is an elective, so you choose it in place of a theory course. The work runs in two parts: a project proposal that SOEDS must approve, and then a project report based on that approved proposal.

The MDVP-117 journey at a glance

Every MADVS project moves through these steps. The green tag shows where HelpBooks supports you.

Part A – Project proposal
  1. 1
    Choose a topicNarrow, linked to development issues, and possible to study in your locale.HelpBooks: 5–6 topic options for you
  2. 2
    Find an eligible supervisorCheck the eligibility conditions given below.HelpBooks: eligibility check
  3. 3
    Prepare proposal + proforma + supervisor bio-dataAbout 4–5 typed pages for the proposal and about 2 pages for the bio-data.HelpBooks: proposal drafted with you
  4. 4
    Send to the Project Coordinator (MADVS), SOEDSOne copy, envelope marked “Project Proposal-MDVP-117”. Keep a copy for yourself.HelpBooks: final check before posting
  5. 5
    ApprovalYou get a Project Proposal (P.P.) number. If the proposal is not approved, revise and resend.HelpBooks: revision support
Part B – Project report
  1. 6
    Collect data and write the reportAbout 40–50 typed pages, not more than about 10,000 words excluding appendices.HelpBooks: full report support
  2. 7
    Bind with proforma and originality certificateHard-bound A4 copy with the approved proforma and a certificate signed by you and your supervisor.HelpBooks: annexure checklist
  3. 8
    Send to the Assistant Registrar (Project Section), SEDRegistered or Speed post, envelope marked “PROJECT REPORT- MDVP-117”, with the supervisor’s remuneration bill.HelpBooks: address and envelope check
  4. 9
    Evaluation and resultReports reaching IGNOU by 31 May are meant for June results and by 30 November for December results.HelpBooks: support till marks

MDVP-117 at a glance

Course code MDVP-117, Project Work (elective), MA Development Studies
Credits As per your programme guide. IGNOU documents show different credit figures, so confirm in your own handbook.
Stage 1 Proposal of about 4–5 typed pages, proforma and supervisor’s bio-data
Stage 2 Report of about 40–50 typed pages (1.5 line spacing), about 10,000 words, with 10% variation allowed
Proposal dates 30 April for January admission, 31 October for July admission. Later proposals are accepted, but completion is delayed.
Marks 100 marks, minimum 40% to pass. The handbook does not mention a viva.

Figures are based on the MDVP-117 project handbook. IGNOU revises its guidelines from time to time, so check the latest handbook on ignou.ac.in before you begin.

Who can be your MDVP-117 supervisor?

IGNOU facultyFaculty of the School of Extension and Development Studies at IGNOU headquarters
MADVS academic counsellorCounsellor with relevant experience at a study centre
Teacher, researcher or professionalA teacher, researcher or development professional in a related field. For non-faculty supervisors the handbook prefers a PhD, or an M.Phil/Master’s degree with 5 years of experience.

The supervisor’s complete, signed bio-data must go with your proposal. Without it the proposal will not be entertained. If SOEDS does not accept your supervisor, or if you change supervisor later for any reason, you must submit a new proposal with the new supervisor’s signature.

Choosing an MDVP-117 project topic

Too broad
“Poverty and development in India”
Approvable
“Awareness and use of MGNREGA work among women job-card holders in two villages of Sitapur district”

A good MDVP-117 topic is narrow, tied to a development issue, and possible for you to study with the time and contacts you have. Some areas that work well:

  • Rural livelihoods: self-help group functioning, income sources of landless households
  • Welfare schemes: reach and awareness of a public scheme among beneficiaries in your area
  • Gender and development: women’s participation in village-level decisions or work
  • Health, education and sanitation: access to a service in a ward, village or block
  • Migration and urban poor: living conditions or work of migrant families in your city

If you are working, a topic linked to your own organisation, village or city makes data collection far easier. This is also the first thing our mentors look at when they suggest topics to a MADVS learner.

MDVP-117 proposal format

The proposal should cover these parts:

  • Title
  • Introduction
  • Objectives
  • Problem statement
  • Research methodology: locale, sampling, data collection instruments and statistical tools
  • Limitations, if any
  • References

With the proposal you attach the proforma signed by you and your supervisor, and the supervisor’s bio-data. SOEDS allots a P.P. number. If the proposal is not approved, the evaluator’s comments are sent back to you.

MDVP-117 project report structure

After approval, the report is built on the same topic, objectives and locale that were approved. The handbook lists this order:

  • Title page
  • Approved project proposal proforma
  • Originality certificate signed by you and your supervisor
  • Acknowledgements, if any, and table of contents
  • Introduction, with objectives and rationale
  • Review of literature
  • Methodology
  • Results and discussion
  • Conclusion
  • Limitations and suggestions for further work
  • References in APA style, in alphabetical order
  • Appendices, such as the questionnaire or interview schedule

Send one hard-bound A4 copy by Registered or Speed post, along with the supervisor’s remuneration bill.

Got your approval? Let us help you finish the report.
HelpBooks mentors help you turn your approved proposal into a complete MDVP-117 report with your own locale data, proper tables and interpretation, and a final annexure check before you post it. WhatsApp us on 8800002552

Why MDVP-117 proposals and reports come back

  • Supervisor’s signed bio-data missing or incomplete
  • Supervisor not accepted by SOEDS, or changed without a fresh proposal
  • Proforma not signed by the student and the supervisor
  • Topic too wide, or objectives that the methodology cannot answer
  • Report that changes the topic or locale from the approved proposal
  • Approved proforma or originality certificate missing from the bound report
  • Copied literature review or theory
  • Report posted to the wrong office

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

How HelpBooks mentors MADVS learners

Most learners who reach us have one of three problems: they cannot settle on a topic, their proposal has come back once, or they have approval but do not know how to turn field data into a 40–50 page report. Our mentors stay with you through the whole MDVP-117 journey, from the first topic list to the day your marks appear:

  • 5–6 workable topic options based on your job, organisation and area, to discuss with your supervisor
  • Proposal drafted with you in the MDVP-117 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 locale data and a plagiarism check
  • A final check of the annexures, certificate and envelope before you send it to IGNOU
  • Support until your result is declared, including any changes the evaluator asks for

Starting MDVP-117 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

Is MDVP-117 compulsory?
It is an elective project work course. You choose it in place of a theory course, so check your programme guide before you register.

Can I choose a supervisor from my workplace?
Yes, if the person meets the eligibility conditions in the handbook and signs the proforma and bio-data.

Is there a viva for MDVP-117?
The handbook does not mention a viva. The report is evaluated by an examiner chosen by the Student Evaluation Division, for 100 marks.

What if I want to change my supervisor?
You need to submit a new proposal with the new supervisor’s signature.

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 MDVP-117 project handbook; always follow the latest official guideline and your supervisor’s instructions.

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