NCERT gets deemed-university status; six institutes brought under it

The Ministry of Education has officially announced the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), New Delhi, as a deemed-to-be university under a distinct category. The decision was formalised through a notification issued on March 30, 2026, under provisions of the UGC Act, 1956.

The notification states that the move follows a detailed evaluation process, including recommendations from the University Grants Commission (UGC) expert committee and compliance verification by NCERT. The deemed university status will include six constituent units located across India, strengthening NCERT’s role in teacher education and academic research.

As part of the declaration, six of NCERT’s institutions across the country will now function as its constituent units. These include Regional Institutes of Education in Ajmer, Bhopal, and Bhubaneswar, Regional Institutes of Education in Manasagangotri, Mysore, the North East Regional Institute of Education in Shillong, and the Pandit Sundarlal Sharma Central Institute of Vocational Education in Bhopal.

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How NCERT got deemed university status and what it means

The decision follows a multi-step approval process. As noted in the notification, the Centre is empowered under the UGC Act to declare an institution as a deemed university on the advice of the UGC.

NCERT had applied through the UGC portal and was issued a Letter of Intent (LoI) in 2023 with certain conditions. It was given a three-year window to meet these requirements before being considered for the deemed university.

After fulfilling the conditions, NCERT submitted its compliance report in 2025. The notification states that “the compliance report was accepted by its Expert Committee,” and the recommendation was later cleared in the UGC’s 595th meeting held in January 2026.

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Rules NCERT must follow as a deemed university

The government has also laid down clear guidelines for NCERT’s functioning under its new deemed university. Financial accountability is a key condition: the institution cannot divert its funds or assets without prior approval from both the UGC and the central government.

The notification also emphasises that NCERT must remain non-commercial in nature. It clearly states that the institution “shall not engage or indulge in any activities that are of commercial and profit making in nature.”

Academically, all programmes must follow UGC norms. Any new courses, campuses or expansion plans will need to strictly adhere to regulatory guidelines. The institution has also been encouraged to strengthen its research efforts and gradually expand into new academic areas.

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Focus on accreditation, rankings and digital systems

To ensure quality standards, NCERT will be required to obtain accreditation from bodies such as NAAC or NBA for its eligible programmes. It will also have to participate regularly in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF).

The notification further mandates the creation of an Academic Bank of Credits (ABC) to digitally store students’ academic records. It states that NCERT must “create Academic Bank of Credits (ABC)… and upload credit scores in digital lockers,” ensuring transparency and ease of credit transfer.

In addition, NCERT will need to update its Memorandum of Association (MoA) in line with UGC regulations, follow prescribed fee structures, and maintain all procedures related to admissions, course approvals and student intake as per existing norms.