On March 30, 2026, the Education Ministry of India notified that the National Council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has been granted deemed university status, enabling it to offer degree programs. This decision follows the University Grants Commission's approval of recommendations from an expert committee earlier in January. The notification outlines several conditions for NCERT, including a ban on commercial activities and a requirement to adhere to the norms set by the University Grants Commission (UGC). Furthermore, NCERT is tasked with expanding its academic offerings, initiating research and doctoral programs, and ensuring compliance with the National Education Policy of 2020. The Ministry also mandated NCERT to engage in annual rankings through the National Institutional Ranking Framework and to establish a system for Academic Bank of Credits (ABC) to manage student identities and credit scores digitally.