MoE Declares NCERT as ‘Deemed to be University’ Under Distinct Category
On 30th March 2026, the Ministry of Education (MoE), through its Department of Higher Education (DHE), declared the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) as a ‘Deemed to be University’ under a distinct category as per Section 3 of the University Grants Commission (UGC) Act, 1956.
NCERT Deemed-to-be-University Status:
Constituents: The status covers NCERT along with six of its constituent institutions across India includes: Regional Institute of Education (RIE), Ajmer (Rajasthan); RIE, Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh, MP); RIE, Bhubaneswar (Odisha); RIE, Mysuru (Karnataka) ; North East RIE, Shillong (Meghalaya); Pandit Sunderlal Sharma Central Institute of Vocational Education (PSSCIVE), Bhopal (MP).
Academic: NCERT can now offer Diploma, Undergraduate (UG), Postgraduate (PG), Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), and specialised programmes while continuing curriculum development.
Funds: NCERT shall not divert assets or funds without prior permission from the UGC and Central Government, and must not engage in commercial or profit-making activities.