NCERT Granted Deemed University Status on March 30, 2026; To Offer Degrees Independently

The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) was officially declared an Institution Deemed to be University by the Ministry of Education on March 30, 2026. This significant development, disclosed by Minister of State for Education Dr Sukanta Majumdar in the Lok Sabha on August 10, allows NCERT, headquartered in New Delhi, to independently offer academic courses and confer degrees.

The new status is expected to significantly strengthen NCERT’s role in educational research and innovation, fostering greater collaboration with national and international agencies. It also provides a wider academic framework for the institution, which was established in 1961 as an autonomous organization under the Ministry of Education.

NCERT Deemed University Status: Key Details and Timeline

The Ministry of Education formally declared NCERT an Institution Deemed to be University on March 30, 2026, under Section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956. This decision followed a thorough examination of NCERT’s application by an expert committee constituted by the University Grants Commission (UGC). The UGC approved the expert committee’s recommendations to grant this status in January this year, based on the provisions of the UGC (Institutions Deemed to be Universities) Regulations, 2023.

Minister of State for Education Dr Sukanta Majumdar provided a written reply in the Lok Sabha on August 10, confirming this development. The new status applies to NCERT and its six regional institutes, empowering them to independently design and offer various academic programs.

NCERT’S Enhanced Role and New Mandates

NCERT’s enhanced status expands its role in research, higher education and national curriculum development while keeping its focus on public education.

• Launch new research programmes, doctoral programmes and academic programmes.
• Serve as the nodal agency for developing National Curriculum Frameworks (NCFs) under NEP 2020.
• Continue as a national think tank and resource institution for education.
• Provide technical support to the Central and state governments on educational matters.
• Ensure all academic programmes follow UGC norms and standards.
• Align academic initiatives with the objectives of NEP 2020.
• Remain restricted from commercial or profit-making activities, maintaining its focus on education and research.

Compliance and Accreditation Requirements for NCERT

To maintain its deemed university status, NCERT must fulfill several compliance requirements. The institution is required to secure institutional accreditation from the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) and program ratings from the National Board of Accreditation (NBA). In addition, NCERT must participate in the annual National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) rankings, promoting transparency and accountability in its academic performance.

Another key requirement is the adoption of the Academic Bank of Credits (ABC) system. This system allows students to digitally store academic credits earned from various higher education institutions, supporting flexibility and mobility in their educational pursuits.

Important Dates Regarding NCERT’S Deemed University Status

Written by Nishit Kumar

Nishit Kumar is a senior EdTech industry leader with over a decade of experience in building and scaling education platforms, shaping their product, content, and growth strategy. At FindMyCollege, Nishit oversees content and editorial strategy, guiding topic selection and content frameworks to ensure accuracy, relevance, and student-first value across the website.

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