NCERT Is Expected To Receive Deemed-To-Be-University Status Soon

It is expected that the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) will get the official status of a deemed university at the end of January 2026. This change is a result of the first declaration made by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan in 2023.

Latest Updates About Process

• Final Approval Process: All necessary groundwork has been completed, and the final confirmation is expected to take place within 15 to 20 days following the meeting with the University Grants Commission (UGC).

• "De Novo" Category: The granting of the status is under the "de novo" category, which is for the institutions dedicated to research in new or evolving areas of knowledge that are not presently covered by other universities.

• New Academic Powers: When the status is granted, NCERT will be able to operate as a full research university and will therefore be able to:

• Grant its own degrees at the graduate, postgraduate, and doctoral levels.

• Create its own courses and curriculum without any restrictions.

• Determine its own admission policy and fee structure.

• The new institution will still be mainly funded by the Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Education. 

The movement is aimed at extending the scope of NCERT's operations from school education to higher education and advanced research, thereby making it easy for global academic collaboration.

The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has been awarded the status of a deemed university by the government, making it not only a curriculum development body but also widening its scope into a full research-based university.

• Own Degrees: NCERT has the capacity now to confer UG, PG, and PhD degrees, not depending on any other university.

• Academic Freedom: It can create curricula, change syllabi, and not just regulate but also charge fees for admissions and areas.

• Advanced Research: NCERT will set up laboratories for AI, VR, and AR in the regional centres.

• Global Partnerships: The deemed university status opens the door to collaborations with foreign universities and researchers.

• Teacher Training: It will help the uniformity of teacher education throughout India, according to NEP 2020.

• Stronger Education Link: There will be a better connection between school education and higher research.