In a landmark boost for school education, the Union Education Ministry has granted the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) ‘Deemed to be University’ status under the UGC Act, empowering it to award degrees and spearhead research.
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan announced the gazette notification today, hailing it as “NEP 2020’s cornerstone.” NCERT, long the architect of CBSE/ICSE curricula, now launches postgraduate programs in curriculum design, pedagogy, and edtech from July 2027.
This elevates NCERT’s Sri Aurobindo Marg campus to university stature, akin to IITs/IIMs. “From textbooks to doctorates—NCERT pioneers holistic reform,” Pradhan said at the unveiling.
Key perks: Autonomous degree awards (MA, PhD in Education), global tie-ups, and Rs 500 crore seed funding. It addresses 1.5 lakh teacher vacancies via specialised training.
Experts applaud: “Bridges school-higher ed gap,” said NIEPA director. Critics note potential overlap with existing varsities.
The move aligns with NEP’s multidisciplinary push, positioning NCERT as India’s education R&D hub.