NCERT declared as deemed to be university
The notification dated 30 March enables the NCERT to offer courses and confer degrees; it says all such academic programmes must conform to UGC norms and standards
07 Apr 2026 | 558 Views | By Rahul Kumar
The Ministry of Education, on the advice of the UGC, has declared the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) as an institution deemed to be a university under a distinct category.
In its statement, the Ministry informed that an online application was uploaded on the UGC portal for the grant of Institution deemed to be University status under a distinct category to NCERT. The ministry added that the recommendation of the UGC Expert Committee was considered and approved by the commission. The Ministry also directed the NCERT to take appropriate steps to commence research programmes as well as doctoral and innovative academic programmes.
The NCERT is an autonomous organisation set up in 1961 by the Government to assist and advise the central and state governments on policies and programmes for qualitative improvement in school education. The major objectives of NCERT and its constituent units are to undertake, promote and coordinate research in areas related to school education, prepare and publish model textbooks, supplementary material, newsletters, journals, among others.
The notification confers this status on the NCERT, along with its six regional institutes, provided that a list of conditions is met.
These conditions prevent the NCERT from indulging in any activities that are “commercial” and “profit-making” in nature, and mandate that all academic courses or programmes must conform to the norms and standards prescribed by the UGC and the concerned statutory bodies or councils.
The notification also mandated the NCERT to start new programmes, off-campus or on offshore campuses, “only in accordance with the norms and guidelines issued by the UGC, from time to time, on the subject.” Further, the Ministry has said that the NCERT “shall take appropriate steps” to begin research programmes, doctoral programmes, and “innovative academic programmes”.
It added that the institute must not confine itself to what are currently the new emerging areas, but also “endeavour” to expand into other domains that are in accordance with UGC guidelines and regulations and the National Education Policy of 2020.