The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has been granted Institution Deemed to be University status after evaluation by the UGC
Expert Committee under the UGC (Institutions Deemed to be Universities) Regulations, 2023. This was reiterated in Lok Sabha today (August 10). The Minister of State for Education, DR. Sukanta Majumdar, in a written reply in Lok Sabha today, clarified that considering the advice of UGC, the Ministry of Education, declared NCERT, New Delhi as an Institution Deemed to be University under Section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956 on March 30, 2026. "The Committee, after overall assessment, recommended for grant of Institutions Deemed to be University to NCERT, New Delhi. Considering the advice of UGC, the Ministry of Education, vide Notification dated 30.03.2026, declared NCERT, New Delhi as an Institution Deemed to be University under Section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956. The said declaration was subject to condition that it shall take appropriate steps to commence research programmes as well as doctoral and innovative academic programmes," the official PIB release stated. The release further stated that the "status of Institution Deemed to be University will strengthen the NCERT to promote educational research & innovation and collaborate with national and international agencies. It will further reinforce its role as a think tank and as national resource institution engaged in providing technical support to the Central Government as well as State Governments." This new status given to NCERT will now enable the body to launch academic programmes, including doctoral and innovative courses. The decision to grant the status to NCERT was taken a little after the faculty of the education body had warned that such a transition could dilute its autonomy. As per reports back in March, an assistant professor had written to the director in 2022 cautioning that “by deciding to grant ‘Deemed to be University’ status to NCERT, all we are trying to do is surrender our academic autonomy to the UGC."
