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The government has taken a major decision regarding the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), marking NCERT's entry into the realm of higher education. Specifically, the Union Ministry of Education has decided to grant NCERT the status of a 'Deemed University.' This decision was taken based on the recommendations of the University Grants Commission (UGC). Acting on the recommendations of an expert committee, the UGC had proposed issuing a 'Letter of Intent' to NCERT—subject to certain conditions—a proposal that has now been approved by the Commission.

According to a notification issued by the Ministry, NCERT had applied for 'Deemed University' status via the UGC portal. This application was submitted under Section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956, and has now received official approval.

**Decision Applicable to NCERT's Constituent Institutes**
This decision by the Ministry of Education applies not only to NCERT's headquarters in Delhi but also to its six constituent institutes. These institutes include the Regional Institute of Education in Ajmer (Rajasthan), Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh), Bhubaneswar (Odisha), and Mysore (Karnataka); the North East Regional Institute of Education in Shillong (Meghalaya); and the Pandit Sundarlal Sharma Central Institute of Vocational Education in Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh).

Until now, these institutes operated across five different states and were affiliated with various universities, such as Barkatullah University (Bhopal), MDS University (Ajmer), Mysore University, Utkal University (Bhubaneswar), and North-Eastern Hill University (Shillong). Consequently, they previously had to seek permission from their respective parent universities to introduce new academic programs; however, this requirement has now been eliminated.

**Academic Programs to Align with UGC Norms**
The notification states that NCERT has been brought under the regulatory framework of the University Grants Commission (UGC), stipulating that its academic programs must adhere to the norms and standards prescribed by the UGC. It further states that any new academic program, off-campus center, or offshore campus may be established only in strict accordance with the norms and guidelines issued by the UGC.

**NCERT Now Required to Participate in NIRF Rankings**
The notification issued by the Ministry of Education also stipulates that the institution shall not engage in or be involved in any activity of a commercial or profit-making nature. Furthermore, the misuse of funds without prior approval has been prohibited. The notification explicitly states that NCERT is now required to participate in national rankings under the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF), obtain accreditation from the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) and the National Board of Accreditation (NBA), and implement digital systems such as the Academic Bank of Credits (ABC).

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