NCERT Gets Deemed University Status, Education Ministry Confirms

NCERT has been granted deemed-to-be-university status by the Education Ministry following UGC recommendations. The move is expected to strengthen educational research and enable the institution to introduce research, doctoral and innovative academic programmes.

The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has now been declared as an “Institution Deemed to be University” by the Ministry of Education, which will further strengthen its contribution towards research in the field of education and higher academic programmes. The move comes on the back of an expert committee recommendation of the University Grants Commission (UGC).

The new status should give greater academic autonomy to NCERT and boost its status as a national resource institution with respect to school education. The organisation can now further expand its academic activities while retaining its current duties in the field of curriculum development, research on education, teacher education and school education resources.

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The declaration was made after taking into account the recommendations of the UGC as per Section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956, according to the Education Ministry. The status has been conferred under a separate category with conditions for NCERT to undertake appropriate action to undertake research programmes, doctoral programmes and innovative academic programmes.

The move could widen NCERT's scope of involvement in the field of higher education and enable it to come up with special programmes in the field of education, pedagogy, curriculum studies and other related fields and activities in the context of school and teacher education. This may also give education researchers more opportunities for structured research into new issues in the field.

NCERT was founded in 1961 and has always been a key player in the field of school education in India. It has the mission to advise the central and state governments with regard to educational policies and programmes, to undertake research and publish textbooks and other educational materials.

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The deemed-university status is likely to help strengthen these functions by providing a more solid institutional structure for advanced research and academic collaboration. It might also help to promote collaboration with universities, research institutions and other organisations in education and related areas.

The development follows India's efforts to boost research and innovation in the country, as per National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The promotion of multidisciplinary education, teacher training, research and innovation has driven the demand for schools that can accommodate evidence-based education.

The new status may thus enable the NCERT to break away from its traditional role of being a school education resource institute and build an extended academic and research academia.

The Education Ministry has indicated that the upgrade is intended to enhance NCERT’s contribution to educational research and innovation. The institution’s future academic programmes will be developed in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements and UGC norms.