NCERT Deemed University — Academic Bank of Credits, NEP 2020, Off-Campus, UGC Norms | UPSC Education Policy MCQ 2026

With reference to the NCERT being granted 'Institution deemed to be University' status, consider the following statements:
1. NCERT must compulsorily adopt the Academic Bank of Credits (ABC) system, linking student identities to digital lockers.
2. NCERT is authorized to establish off-campus and offshore campuses in accordance with University Grants Commission (UGC) guidelines.
3. All academic programs of NCERT must align with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and follow UGC norms.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Correct Answer: 1, 2 and 3

All three statements are correct. The Centre has granted the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) the status of an 'Institution deemed to be University under distinct category', marking a significant expansion of NCERT's academic role.

Statement-wise Analysis

• Statement 1 — Correct: NCERT is mandated to compulsorily adopt the Academic Bank of Credits (ABC) system. This includes creating student identities and uploading credit scores to digital lockers linked to the ABC portal — a key digital integration requirement under NEP 2020.
• Statement 2 — Correct: NCERT is now authorized to establish off-campus and offshore campuses in accordance with UGC guidelines, significantly expanding its geographical reach in education and research.
• Statement 3 — Correct: All NCERT programs must strictly adhere to the norms and standards prescribed by the University Grants Commission (UGC) and align with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

Full Package of NCERT's New Powers and Obligations

• Degree-Granting Authority: NCERT and its 6 regional institutes can now independently offer academic courses and confer degrees.
• Academic Expansion: Mandated to initiate new research, doctoral, and innovative academic programs.
• Accreditation: Must obtain accreditation from NAAC (National Assessment and Accreditation Council) and have programs rated by NBA (National Board of Accreditation).
• NIRF Rankings: Required to participate in annual rankings issued by the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF).
• Non-Profit Mandate: Strictly prohibited from engaging in any 'commercial' or 'profit-making' activities.

Significance

This move transforms NCERT from merely a curriculum design body into a full-fledged research and academic institution, in line with the NEP 2020 vision of transforming educational institutions into multidisciplinary research hubs.