- NCERT empowered to award degrees under UGC norms
- Ministry sets conditions for courses and academic programmes
Hyderabad, April 3: The NCERT deemed university status has been formally granted, allowing it to award its own degrees. Officials confirmed the development through a notification issued by the Ministry of Education. The move gives the institution greater academic authority.
The notification stated, “The Ministry of Education, on the advice of the University Grants Commission (UGC), NCERT along with its six constituent units have been declared as deemed to be University under distinct category.” This includes regional institutes of education in Ajmer, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Mysuru and Shillong, along with the Pandit Sunderlal Sharma Central Institute of Vocational Education in Bhopal.
NCERT Deemed University Status and De Novo Category
The NCERT deemed university status follows an earlier decision taken three years ago. At that time, the Centre approved the proposal under the De Novo category. A De-Novo deemed university can apply to the UGC to set up a new institution focused on unique and emerging areas of knowledge not offered elsewhere.
As the apex organisation for school education, NCERT carries out research, curriculum development, and preparation of teaching materials. Therefore, this new status is expected to strengthen its academic role. It will also allow the institution to expand into new research and academic programmes.
UGC Norms, Conditions and Academic Expansion
However, the notification clearly lists several conditions. It states that NCERT cannot engage in activities that are “commercial” and “profit-making” in nature. It also mandates that all academic courses must follow the norms set by the UGC and other statutory bodies.
Further, the notification says NCERT can start new programmes or campuses “only in accordance with the norms and guidelines issued by the UGC, from time to time, on the subject”. This ensures that expansion remains within the regulatory framework.
At present, NCERT’s Regional Institutes of Education offer graduate and post-graduate programmes affiliated with local universities. These include Barkatullah University, Bhopal, M D S University, Ajmer, University of Mysuru, Utkal University, Bhubaneshwar and the North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong.
Meanwhile, the Ministry has directed NCERT to begin research and doctoral programmes. It has also asked the institution to take part in annual rankings under the National Institutional Ranking Framework. In addition, NCERT must “compulsorily” create Academic Bank of Credits identities and upload student credit data in digital lockers linked to the ABC portal.
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