📘 Introduction: What is NCERT?
The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) is not just a textbook publisher—it’s the nerve centre of India’s school education system.
Established to assist and advise both the Central and State Governments, NCERT plays a pivotal role in shaping:
School curricula
Textbooks
Educational research
Teaching methods
Teacher training
Whether you’ve studied in CBSE, Kendriya Vidyalaya, or even used a guidebook, chances are NCERT has touched your academic journey.
NCERT is where quality, equity, and inclusiveness meet in education.
🕰️ History of NCERT – Foundation of India’s Modern Education
📅 1961 – Established on 1st September 1961, under the Ministry of Education.
🔄 Formed by merging seven existing national institutions, like:
Central Institute of Education
Central Bureau of Textbook Research
National Institute of Basic Education, etc.
🏢 Headquartered at Sri Aurobindo Marg, New Delhi.
The aim was to create a uniform, research-driven, and child-centered approach to education across India.
📊 Interesting Facts About NCERT
Feature | Details |
---|---|
📚 Name | National Council of Educational Research and Training |
🏛️ Type | Autonomous Institution under the Ministry of Education |
🔰 Founded | 1st September 1961 |
📍 HQ | New Delhi |
🧠 Main Tasks | Curriculum Design, Educational Research, Teacher Training |
📘 Books | Used by CBSE and various state boards |
🌍 Reach | Translated into over 20 Indian and 5+ foreign languages |
🧪 Focus | NEP 2020 implementation, digital education, inclusive learning |
📅 NCERT Timeline – Key Milestones
Year | Event |
---|---|
1961 | NCERT established |
1975 | National Curriculum Framework (NCF) first launched |
1988 | NCERT reformed curriculum to focus on holistic learning |
2005 | Launch of updated NCF: Activity-based learning begins |
2020 | NEP 2020 aligned reforms and digitalization |
2023 | Launch of NCERT textbooks in 22 languages, aligned with NEP |
2024 | Declared as a Deemed University by Government of India |
🎯 7 Powerful Reasons Why NCERT Is a Game-Changer
1. 📚 Uniform and Inclusive Learning Material
NCERT ensures standardized, unbiased education for children across India—whether they live in a metro or a tribal village.
2. 🧪 Research-Driven Curriculum
Curriculum designed through:
Global studies
Child psychology
Socio-cultural diversity
Modern pedagogical methods
3. 🧑🏫 Teacher Empowerment
NCERT trains teachers via:
Regional Institutes of Education (RIEs)
Webinars
Model teaching frameworks
This raises the quality of classroom teaching.
4. 🌍 Multilingual and Multicultural Support
Books are available in Hindi, English, Urdu, and regional languages, ensuring equity and access.
5. 📱 Digital Education via ePathshala & DIKSHA
During COVID-19, NCERT pioneered remote learning via:
ePathshala app
Digital courses on DIKSHA
YouTube tutorials
Audio-visual learning for the differently abled
6. 🏆 Foundation of Competitive Exams
NCERT books are:
The core preparation source for UPSC, NEET, JEE, CUET
Regarded as factual and concept-based by toppers
7. 💡 Aligned with NEP 2020 Vision
Now, NCERT:
Is revamping the curriculum to include Critical Thinking, Coding, Environmental Values
Works closely with PARAKH (Performance Assessment, Review and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development) to design competency-based evaluation
🧠 Major NCERT Initiatives
National Curriculum Framework (NCF) – Reforms the syllabus every 10–15 years
Bharatiya Shiksha Niti Projects – Promoting Indian knowledge systems
Publication Division – Textbooks, journals, educational newsletters
Research Projects – Studies in child psychology, rural education, tribal upliftment
RIEs (Regional Institutes of Education) – Located in Ajmer, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Mysore, Shillong
❓ FAQs About NCERT
Q1. Is NCERT only for CBSE?
➡️ No. Though it mainly supports CBSE, many state boards also follow NCERT books or their modified versions.
Q2. Is NCERT becoming a university?
➡️ Yes! In 2024, NCERT was granted Deemed University status, enabling it to offer teacher training degrees and educational research programs.
Q3. Why are NCERT books preferred for competitive exams?
➡️ Because they’re conceptual, concise, and factually accurate—ideal for deep understanding.
Q4. Can we download NCERT books online?
➡️ Yes! Free downloads available on:
DIKSHA app
Q5. Are NCERT books available in all Indian languages?
➡️ Yes! Translated into 20+ Indian languages like Marathi, Bengali, Assamese, Tamil, Telugu, etc.
🌟 Significance of NCERT in Indian Society
📚 Educational Equality – Ensures the same learning for a tribal student in Jharkhand and an urban child in Delhi.
🧭 Guiding National Policy – NCERT is the think tank behind all major school education reforms.
👨👩👧👦 Parents’ Trust – NCERT textbooks are affordable, safe, and informative for families across India.
📖 Learning Culture – Promotes curiosity, creativity, and self-learning.
🌿 Values and Ethics – Emphasizes environment, social values, gender sensitivity, and emotional learning.
🙏 Wishing All NCERT Scholars, Teachers, and Developers
🌸 To the educators who write, edit, and distribute NCERT books—your pen holds the future of India.
📚 To the learners—may your knowledge illuminate society, just as NCERT illuminates your path.
🌟 To every Indian child—may NCERT books guide you toward wisdom, compassion, and excellence.
🧬 Daily Life Impact of NCERT
Children gain clarity in basics that stay with them forever.
Teachers use structured resources that ease lesson planning.
Parents save on expensive books and gain trust in quality.
Competitive exam aspirants rely on NCERT for their foundation.
Policymakers use NCERT data to reform schooling systems.
📌 Important Observance
NCERT Foundation Day: 1st September
National Education Day: 11th November, when NCERT’s vision is celebrated
Aligned events with NEP, Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, and International Literacy Day
🎓 Why NCERT Is Important in Your Life
NCERT touches our lives in ways we don’t even notice:
Helps form early logic, morals, and imagination
Is part of nearly every major Indian exam
Shapes values, history, and national identity
It doesn’t just prepare students for school—it prepares citizens for society.
✅ Conclusion – The Unsung Hero of Indian Education
While big institutions get the spotlight, it is NCERT that quietly builds the foundation of Indian schooling.
It empowers:
A child to learn without bias
A teacher to teach with confidence
A nation to grow with vision
🔖 In a noisy world of coaching centers and private publishers, NCERT stands as the silent warrior of learning—trusted, humble, and essential.