IGNOU started functioning in Sikkim from 1989, much before the establishment of Regional Centre Gangtok. The Study Centre-2401 at Sikkim Govt. College Tadong(now renamed as Nar Bahadur Bhandari Degree College) has been operational since then, initially under Regional Centre Kolkata and later under Regional Centre Guwahati. The Regional Centre Gangtok was established in December 2000 and thereafter Learner Support Centres(LSC) have been activated in each district of the state to provide access to higher education across the state. At present, there are 8 LSCs in Sikkim comprising of 4 Regular Study Centres, 3 Special Study Centres & 1 Programme Study Centre. There is at least one Study Centre in each district of the state.