NCERT Gets Deemed University Status as Government Reaffirms Approval Amid Autonomy Concerns

The Ministry of Education has reiterated that the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has been granted the status of an institution deemed to be a university, while concerns remain over the implications of the move for its academic autonomy.

In a Lok Sabha response, the Ministry said NCERT’s application was assessed by an expert committee of the University Grants Commission (UGC) under the 2023 regulations governing deemed universities. Following the committee’s recommendation, the Ministry granted NCERT the status under Section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956, through a notification issued on March 30.

The approval requires NCERT to expand its research activities and introduce doctoral and innovative academic programmes. According to the Ministry, the new status will strengthen the organisation’s role in educational research, innovation and collaboration with institutions in India and abroad, while enhancing its position as a national educational think tank.

The declaration covers NCERT and six constituent institutions, including 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.

The transition follows a process that began with NCERT’s application through the UGC portal. A Letter of Intent was issued in August 2023, followed by NCERT’s compliance report in November 2025. The proposal was subsequently examined and approved by the UGC Commission at its 595th meeting on January 30, 2026.

The deemed university framework also places several conditions on NCERT. Its academic programmes must comply with UGC standards, while new courses and off-campus centres will require adherence to relevant guidelines. The institution cannot undertake commercial or profit-oriented activities and must participate in NIRF rankings and pursue accreditation through bodies such as NAAC and NBA.

NCERT will also be required to establish an Academic Bank of Credits and maintain students’ academic credit records digitally.

However, the transition has prompted concerns about autonomy. Earlier discussions within NCERT reportedly raised questions about whether greater regulatory oversight could affect its academic independence.