IGNOU MAW-002 Assignment 2026-27
Animal Welfare Issues
Last updated by IGNOU: 29 Jul 2026. Guide written from the official PDF on 28 Oct 2026, 04:26 am.
| Course code | MAW-002 |
|---|---|
| Course title | Animal Welfare Issues |
| Programme | Post Graduate Diploma in Animal Welfare (PGDAW)PGDAW |
| School | School of Extension and Development Studies |
| Assignment code | ASSIGNMENT - 2 |
| Session | July 2026 & January 2027 Sessions |
| Maximum marks | 100 |
| Weightage | 30% |
| Last date (June exam) | 31 Mar 2027 |
| Last date (December exam) | 30 Sept 2027 |
| Medium | English |
About the MAW-002 assignment
The MAW-002 assignment covers welfare concerns involving dairy animals, pigs, performing animals, companion animals and laboratory animals. It asks students to examine housing, husbandry practices, ethical concerns, responsible ownership and ways to improve animal welfare in research settings.
There are five compulsory questions, each worth 20 marks, for a total of 100 marks. Each answer should be around 800 words. The assignment contributes 30% of the final grade and must be handwritten.
What the assignment asks
| Question | Marks | Topic |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | 20 | Evaluate the effects of housing on dairy animal welfare and the social, economic and practical reasons for continuing painful husbandry practices. |
| Q2 | 20 | Analyze ethical and physiological welfare concerns in intensive pig farming, with particular attention to farrowing crates and criticisms of their use. |
| Q3 | 20 | Classify performing animals and examine the behavioral and physical welfare risks associated with commercial entertainment settings. |
| Q4 | 20 | Explain how neglecting the Five Freedoms undermines responsible pet ownership, using examples of common companion animal welfare problems. |
| Q5 | 20 | Describe how to apply Replacement, Reduction and Refinement in a university animal research lab, including two everyday welfare problems and the veterinarian’s role in addressing them. |
This is a summary of each question. Download the official PDF above for the exact questions and word limits.
How to write and submit it
- Submit the latest assignment available on the university website, regardless of your registration year or session.
- On the first page, include your name, full address, enrolment number, admission session, course code, course title and Regional Centre.
- Use A4 plain or ruled paper, write on both sides with margins, and tie or staple the pages separately for each course.
- Write answers in your own handwriting; only handwritten assignments are evaluated. Include the question number with every answer.
- Answer all five questions, keeping each response around 800 words.
- Organize answers logically with an introduction and conclusion, write neatly, and underline points you want to emphasize.
- Send the assignment by Speed Post to Prof. P.V.K. Sasidhar, Programme Coordinator – PGDAW, School of Extension and Development Studies (SOEDS), Block 15-F, IGNOU, Maidan Garhi, New Delhi-110068.
- Keep a scanned copy of your assignment until the marks appear in your grade card, and check the university website for any deadline extension.
Submission dates: 31 March 2027 (June term-end exam; July 2026 session); 30 September 2027 (December term-end exam; January 2027 session).
Frequently asked questions
Which sessions does the MAW-002 assignment cover?
This assignment is for the July 2026 and January 2027 sessions of the Post Graduate Diploma in Animal Welfare.
How many questions must I answer in MAW-002?
All five questions are compulsory. Each carries 20 marks, making the assignment worth 100 marks.
What is the word limit and weightage for this assignment?
Each answer should be around 800 words. The assignment accounts for 30% of the final grade.
Can I submit a typed MAW-002 assignment?
No. The PDF states that only assignments written in your own handwriting are evaluated.
What are the MAW-002 submission deadlines?
The listed deadlines are 31 March 2027 for the June term-end exam and 30 September 2027 for the December term-end exam. The PDF links these to the July 2026 and January 2027 sessions respectively and asks students to check the university website for extensions.
Where should I send the completed assignment?
Send it by Speed Post to Prof. P.V.K. Sasidhar, Programme Coordinator – PGDAW, SOEDS, Block 15-F, IGNOU, Maidan Garhi, New Delhi-110068. Retain a scanned copy until the marks appear in your grade card.
Other IGNOU PGDAW assignments
All PGDAW assignments →Assignment details and PDFs come from IGNOU's official website; the guide is a summary of the official PDF. Always check the latest instructions and last dates on ignou.ac.in or with your Regional Centre before submitting.