New Delhi: The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has been granted the status of an Institution Deemed to be University, the Lok Sabha was informed.

Minister of State for Education Sukanta Majumdar said NCERT's application for the status was examined by the University Grants Commission (UGC) through an expert committee in accordance with the UGC (Institutions Deemed to be Universities) Regulations, 2023.

The committee, after an overall assessment, recommended granting NCERT the status of an Institution Deemed to be University.

Based on the UGC's recommendation, the Ministry of Education, through a notification dated March 30, 2026, declared NCERT, New Delhi, an Institution Deemed to be University under Section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956.

The declaration is subject to the condition that NCERT takes appropriate steps to commence research programmes as well as doctoral and innovative academic programmes, Majumdar said in a written reply in the Lok Sabha.

The deemed university status is expected to strengthen NCERT's role in promoting educational research and innovation and facilitate collaboration with national and international agencies.

It will also reinforce NCERT's role as a think tank and national resource institution providing technical support to the Centre and state governments, the minister said.