NCERT Officially Declared Deemed-to-be University: Now Authorized to Award Own Degrees

Content Writer | KdTvCV - Apr 4, 2026

Students benefit from degree portability via the Academic Bank of Credits. They can now pursue PhD and research programs directly through NCERT, which will now feature in NIRF rankings.

The National Council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has reached a historic milestone. The Ministry of Education, acting on the recommendation of the University Grants Commission (UGC), has officially granted the council the status of a deemed-to-be university.

According to the latest update, this transformative shift means the NCERT will no longer need to affiliate with local universities to provide certifications; it is now legally empowered to award its own graduate, post-graduate, and doctoral degrees.

“The Ministry of Education, on the advice of the University Grants Commission (UGC), NCERT, along with its six constituent units have been declared as a deemed to be University under a distinct category.” Official Notification

NCERT Key Milestones and Timeline

Date	Event
September 2023	Initial approval granted under the 'De Novo' category.
April 03, 2026	Official notification confirming the deemed-to-be university status.
April 03, 2026	Last updated status of the new educational mandate.

This new status applies not only to the headquarters in New Delhi but also to its six constituent units, which include the Regional Institutes of Education (RIE) located in Ajmer, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Mysuru, and Shillong, as well as the vocational institute in Bhopal.

Previously, these institutes were affiliated with various state universities, such as Barkatullah University and Utkal University. Moving forward, the NCERT will function as a unified, degree-granting entity under the 'De Novo' category, focusing on unique and emerging areas of knowledge.

“NCERT shall take appropriate steps to begin research programmes, doctoral programmes and innovative academic programmes.” Ministry of Education Representative

The government has introduced specific guidelines to ensure academic integrity. The NCERT is strictly prohibited from engaging in commercial or profit-making activities.

Additionally, the council must now participate in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) and implement the Academic Bank of Credits (ABC), ensuring that students’ credit scores are digitally stored and easily transferable.

Candidates should monitor the official NCERT portal (ncert.nic.in) and collegedunia.com for 2026 updates on degrees, PhD admissions, and NIRF rankings under its new status.