From Textbooks to Degrees: NCERT Steps Into Higher Education

New Delhi: The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) is preparing to introduce postgraduate and doctoral programmes in education, marking a major expansion of its academic role in the country’s higher education landscape.

Officials from the Ministry of Education confirmed that the institution will soon begin offering MA, postgraduate and PhD-level research programmes focused on education and related fields. The development comes just weeks after the Centre granted NCERT the status of an “Institution deemed to be University” under the distinct category in April 2026.

Known primarily for developing school textbooks, curriculum frameworks and conducting educational research, NCERT has traditionally played a central role in shaping India’s school education system. With its new status, the institution will now have the authority to design its own curriculum, prescribe academic standards and award degrees independently.

Education Ministry officials said the move is aimed at strengthening teacher education, policy research and innovation in the learning sector. The proposed programmes are also expected to create new opportunities for students and researchers interested in educational studies and pedagogy.

The expansion reflects the Centre’s broader push to reform higher education and promote specialised institutions under the National Education Policy framework. Once operational, the courses could position NCERT as a key academic hub for advanced studies and research in education across India.