NCERT: The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) may soon be granted the status of a deemed-to-be university. According to sources associated with the Ministry of Education, the necessary preparations in this direction have been completed, and a final decision is likely to be made by the end of January 2026.
Sources have said that now only formal approval in the University Grants Commission (UGC) meeting remains. According to a senior official, ‘Preparations have been completed. A decision will be taken in the next UGC meeting. It is expected that the situation will be clear by the end of the month.
It is noteworthy that in 2023, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan announced plans to develop NCERT as a research university. He stated that this would provide NCERT with new opportunities to collaborate with academic institutions globally and bring international recognition to India’s education system.
NCERT’s Role Will be Significant and Extensive
NCERT is an autonomous organization under the Ministry of Education that plays a key role in improving the quality of school education. Its main responsibilities include curriculum development, textbook publication, educational research, and teacher training.
After being granted deemed university status, NCERT will be able to expand its in-house research programs and function as a fully developed research university. According to sources, the institute will continue to receive financial support primarily from the School Education and Literacy Department.
NCERT Will Also Have the Authority to Award Degrees
Institutions recognized as deemed universities under the UGC Act, 1956, receive academic autonomy. Currently, there are about 145 deemed universities in the country. The first institution to receive this status was the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in 1958, while Tamil Nadu has the highest number of such universities. If NCERT is granted this status, it will be able to award undergraduate, postgraduate, and PhD degrees.
