The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) achieved a significant milestone on its 63rd foundation day, as Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan unveiled that it has been granted the prestigious status of a deemed university. This announcement marks the culmination of NCERT's pursuit of this designation, which began in September of the previous year when they submitted their application to the University Grants Commission (UGC) for consideration in the "de novo" category.
Under UGC regulations, institutions receiving deemed university status in the "de novo" category are recognized for their specialization in unique and emerging fields of knowledge. This new designation empowers NCERT to independently confer graduate, post-graduate, and doctoral degrees, granting them greater autonomy in areas such as program development, course structure, examination administration, and overall management.
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Previously, NCERT offered graduate and post-graduate programs for teacher training through its Regional Institute of Education (REI) centers, which were affiliated with local universities. However, these centers were restricted from introducing new courses without prior approval from their affiliated universities.
