Students enrolled in the IGNOU MAAN (Master of Arts in Anthropology) programme often feel confused when it comes to understanding the three compulsory project courses—MANI-1, MANI-3, and MANP-001. Many students are unsure about which project belongs to which year, whether all projects require synopsis approval, whether the same topic can be reused, and where exactly the projects should be submitted. Since project work plays a crucial role in the final evaluation, even small mistakes can lead to rejection or serious delays. This blog explains everything in a clear, structured, and student-friendly way.

Before moving into project-wise details, it is extremely important to understand one mandatory IGNOU rule:

• All three projects—MANI-1, MANI-3, and MANP-001—must have completely different research topics.

• Topic repetition or overlap is strictly not allowed.

• Even slight modification of an earlier topic can lead to rejection of the synopsis.

Understanding this rule early helps students plan their research work properly and avoid unnecessary problems.

Common Project Structure for All Three Projects

Although these projects are completed in different academic years, the basic structure and submission process is the same for all three. Each project follows a two-stage process:

• Stage 1: Submission of a Research Proposal (Synopsis) with the guide’s signature

• Stage 2: Writing and submission of the Final Project Report after receiving approval from the IGNOU Head Office

Students must remember that fieldwork or report writing should begin only after synopsis approval. Any work done without approval may be treated as invalid.

Project-wise Clarification: MANI-1, MANI-3 and MANP-001

1. Project Topics

• All three project topics must be different:
  MANI-1, MANI-3, and MANP-001

• Topic repetition across projects is not permitted by IGNOU.

2. MANI-1 Project (First Year)

MANI-1 is the first-year project of the MAAN programme. It is designed to introduce students to basic anthropological research and fieldwork practices.

For MANI-1, students are required to submit:

• A Research Synopsis with the guide’s signature

• First approval from the IGNOU Head Office

• A Final Project Report prepared according to IGNOU guidelines

Submission details:

• 1 copy to IGNOU Head Office, Maidan Garhi

• 1 copy to the Regional Centre

🔹 Important:
The MANI-1 topic must be unique and must not be reused for MANI-3 or MANP-001.

3. MANI-3 Project (Second Year)

MANI-3 is undertaken in the second year and usually requires more analytical depth than MANI-1. The topic chosen must be completely different from the MANI-1 topic.

For MANI-3, students must submit:

• A Research Synopsis with guide’s signature

• Approval from the IGNOU Head Office

• A Final Project Report

Submission details:

• 1 copy to IGNOU Head Office, Maidan Garhi

• 1 copy to the Regional Centre

🔹 Common mistake to avoid:
Do not slightly modify or extend the MANI-1 topic for MANI-3. IGNOU treats this as topic repetition.

4. MANP-001 Project (Second Year)

MANP-001 is also a second-year project and often causes confusion among students. However, the procedure is exactly the same as MANI-1 and MANI-3.

For MANP-001, students must submit:

• A Research Synopsis with guide’s signature

• Approval from the IGNOU Head Office

• A Final Project Report

Submission details:

• 1 copy to IGNOU Head Office, Maidan Garhi

• 1 copy to the Regional Centre

🔹 Important:
The MANP-001 topic must be independent of both MANI-1 and MANI-3.

Summary at a Glance

• MANI-1 → Synopsis + Final Project Report (First Year)

• MANI-3 → Synopsis + Final Project Report (Second Year)

• MANP-001 → Synopsis + Final Project Report (Second Year)

Mandatory rules for all projects:

• ✔ Different topic for each project

• ✔ Synopsis approval from Head Office is compulsory

• ✔ Submission at both Maidan Garhi and Regional Centre

IGNOU MAAN Project Topics (MANP-001, MANI-1 & MANI-3)  Read More

Final Advice for IGNOU MAAN Students

If you are confused between MANI-1, MANI-3, and MANP-001, remember that while the process is the same, the topics must always be different. Start early, choose your topics carefully, maintain regular communication with your supervisor, and strictly follow IGNOU guidelines. Proper planning and timely submission will help you complete all three projects smoothly without rejection or delay.