NCERT Elevated to Deemed-to-Be University, Gains Authority to Confer Degrees

New Delhi, Apr 3: The National Council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has officially been granted deemed to be university status, empowering it to confer its own degrees, officials confirmed.

According to an official notification, the Ministry of Education, based on recommendations from the University Grants Commission (UGC), recognized NCERT along with its six constituent units as a deemed university under a special category. These units include the Regional Institutes of Education in Ajmer, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Mysuru, and Shillong, as well as the Pandit Sunderlal Sharma Central Institute of Vocational Education in Bhopal.

As India’s apex body for school education, NCERT plays a vital role in educational research, curriculum development, and the creation of textbooks and teaching-learning materials.

The deemed status, approved three years ago in the ‘De Novo’ category, allows NCERT to set up institutions for study and research in emerging and unique areas of knowledge not offered elsewhere. The designation comes with certain conditions: NCERT cannot engage in commercial activities, all academic programs must adhere to UGC and statutory norms, and off-campus or offshore programs must comply with UGC guidelines.

Previously, graduate and postgraduate programs at NCERT’s Regional Institutes were affiliated with local universities, including Barkatullah University (Bhopal), MDS University (Ajmer), University of Mysuru, Utkal University (Bhubaneshwar), and North-Eastern Hill University (Shillong).

Going forward, NCERT will initiate research, doctoral, and innovative academic programs. The government has also instructed the institution to participate in the National Institutional Ranking Framework, establish an Academic Bank of Credits (ABC), and maintain digital records of student credits for integration with the ABC portal.