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Teacher's GK: Education Institutions, AP School Programmes and Curriculum Facts · Chapter 1

National Education Bodies: NCERT, NCTE, UGC, CBSE, NIEPA, RCI

What to remember

  • Each body has a clear job: NCERT for school curriculum and textbooks, NCTE for teacher education, UGC for university standards, CBSE for a school board, NIEPA for educational planning and administration, and RCI for rehabilitation and special-education training.
  • Statutory means created by an Act of Parliament (NCTE, UGC, RCI). NCERT is an autonomous organisation set up by the Government, and CBSE is a board that works under its own bye-laws.
  • Most are linked to the Ministry of Education and have headquarters in New Delhi. RCI is different: it works in the field of disability rehabilitation, under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

Overview table

BodyFull nameEstablishedMain function
NCERTNational Council of Educational Research and Training1961School curriculum, textbooks, research, teacher training support
NCTENational Council for Teacher EducationStatutory since 1995Planned development and regulation of teacher education
UGCUniversity Grants Commission1956 (by Act)Coordinate and maintain standards of university education, give grants
CBSECentral Board of Secondary EducationPresent name 1952; reconstituted 1962Examinations and affiliation of schools
NIEPANational Institute of Educational Planning and AdministrationDeemed university status in 2006Training, research and capacity building in planning and administration
RCIRehabilitation Council of India1986 (Act in 1992)Regulating training of rehabilitation professionals and special educators

NCERT

  • Set up in 1961 as an autonomous body, with headquarters at Sri Aurobindo Marg, New Delhi. It advises the Union and State governments on school education policy.
  • Main work: it prepares the National Curriculum Framework (NCF) and textbooks used mainly by CBSE schools; it does educational research; it conducts national surveys of learning such as the National Achievement Survey; it trains teachers and teacher educators; and it develops educational technology and exhibitions.
  • Constituent units: the National Institute of Education (NIE) in New Delhi, the Central Institute of Educational Technology (CIET), the Pandit Sunderlal Sharma Central Institute of Vocational Education (Bhopal), and Regional Institutes of Education at Ajmer, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Mysuru and Shillong.
  • National Curriculum Frameworks were issued in 1975, 1988, 2000 and 2005, and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education came in 2023 after NEP 2020. NCF 2005 stressed learning without burden and the child as a constructor of knowledge.
  • PARAKH is a national assessment centre set up under NCERT to bring standards and large-scale assessment together.
  • NCERT books are used by many States as models; Andhra Pradesh prepares its own textbooks through the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT), and the State follows national frameworks in its own way.

NCTE

  • Created to achieve planned and coordinated development of teacher education and to maintain norms and standards. It began as an advisory body in 1973 and became a statutory body under the NCTE Act 1993, which came into force in 1995.
  • Functions: recognising teacher education institutions and courses; laying down norms and standards for courses, duration, eligibility and staff; monitoring and inspection; and issuing the National Curriculum Framework for Teacher Education (NCFTE).
  • Link with this exam: the minimum qualifications for teachers of different classes are laid down by NCTE. The Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) is the minimum eligibility for appointment as a teacher in Classes 1 to 8, as per NCTE guidelines under the RTE Act.
  • NEP 2020 recommends that the minimum qualification for school teaching become a four-year integrated degree. NCTE's role is thus central to B.Ed, D.El.Ed and the integrated teacher education programme.
  • Its headquarters is in New Delhi.

UGC

  • The University Education Commission (Radhakrishnan Commission, 1948-49) gave the idea of a central grants body. The UGC was formed in 1953 and became statutory through the UGC Act 1956.
  • Functions: promote and coordinate university education; decide and maintain standards of teaching, examination and research; give grants to universities and colleges; advise the Government on higher education; and publish lists of recognised universities. It also gives the right to confer degrees only to those authorised by law.
  • Programmes: fellowships, research grants, and the National Eligibility Test (NET) for assistant professor and junior research fellowship (the test is now conducted by the National Testing Agency).
  • UGC regulations on minimum qualifications for teachers and on degree nomenclature apply to universities.
  • NEP 2020 proposes a single umbrella regulator for higher education; check the latest official position.
  • Headquarters: New Delhi, with regional offices in several cities.

CBSE

  • Its roots go back to 1929, when a Board of High School and Intermediate Education for Rajputana was set up at Ajmer. It was given its present name in 1952 and finally reconstituted in 1962, and its headquarters is in Delhi.
  • Functions: conducting Class 10 and Class 12 examinations; affiliating schools in India and abroad; prescribing courses and following NCERT books; conducting entrance and eligibility tests such as the Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) for appointment in central schools; and giving training to teachers and principals.
  • CBSE is the board followed by Kendriya Vidyalayas and Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas, and by many private schools.
  • CBSE is an examining and affiliating body. It is not the same as NCERT, which makes curriculum and textbooks.

NIEPA

  • A national institute for capacity building and research in educational planning, policy and administration. It began as an international centre and later became a national institute, and was given the status of a deemed university in 2006 (earlier named NUEPA).
  • Functions: training and orientation of senior education administrators and planners; research in educational policy and management; advising States and the Centre; running diploma and degree courses; and building education data systems and school leadership programmes.
  • Headquarters: Sri Aurobindo Marg, New Delhi (the campus is near NCERT).
  • It works for Central and State education departments, so it serves officers rather than students.

RCI

  • A statutory body set up under the Rehabilitation Council of India Act 1992, after starting as a society in 1986.
  • Functions: standardising and regulating training courses for rehabilitation professionals and personnel, including special educators; recognising institutions and universities that run such courses; maintaining the Central Rehabilitation Register of qualified professionals; encouraging research in rehabilitation and special education; and punishing unqualified practice.
  • Relevant to teachers: a person who teaches children with disabilities needs a qualification recognised by RCI, and special-education courses such as D.Ed Special Education and B.Ed Special Education are RCI recognised.
  • It works in the area of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, in the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities.
  • The RPwD Act 2016 and inclusive education require trained special educators, so RCI is important for the Samagra Shiksha inclusion programme.

Other bodies often asked together

  • NAAC (National Assessment and Accreditation Council, Bengaluru) grades higher education institutions.
  • AICTE (All India Council for Technical Education) began in 1945 and has been statutory since 1987.
  • NIOS (National Institute of Open Schooling) runs open schooling.
  • SCERT and DIET are the State and district-level bodies for curriculum, training and research.
  • NCERT and SCERT are different: one is national, the other is State.

Who does what: a quick sort

If the question is about...The body is
Textbooks, curriculum framework, national achievement surveyNCERT
Recognition of B.Ed and D.El.Ed courses, teacher education normsNCTE
Grants to universities, university standardsUGC
Class 10 and 12 board examination, school affiliation, CTETCBSE
Training of education planners and administratorsNIEPA
Special educators' training and the Central Rehabilitation RegisterRCI

Classroom angle for teachers

A teacher meets these bodies in daily work. The textbook in the child's hand follows a framework from NCERT or SCERT. The teacher's own D.El.Ed or B.Ed is recognised by NCTE. A teacher who wants a lecturer post looks at UGC norms. A school that sends students to Class 10 board examination works with a board such as CBSE or the State board. A child with a disability may need a special educator with an RCI-recognised qualification. A head teacher or district officer may study at NIEPA for planning and school leadership.

The national bodies make policy and set standards; the State bodies (SCERT, DIET, State boards) carry them out in the State's language and context. Both levels work under the Constitution, where education is in the Concurrent List, so the Centre and the States share powers.

Exam traps

  • NCERT prepares curriculum and textbooks; CBSE conducts examinations and affiliates schools.
  • NCTE regulates teacher education; UGC regulates universities; RCI regulates rehabilitation and special-education training.
  • NCTE became statutory in 1995 through an Act of 1993; the UGC Act is of 1956.
  • UGC is a statutory body; NCERT is autonomous, not created by an Act.
  • NIEPA trains planners and administrators; it is not a school board.
  • RCI keeps the Central Rehabilitation Register.
  • The CBSE name dates from 1952 (reconstituted 1962), but its roots are in Ajmer in 1929.
  • NAAC grades institutions, but UGC gives grants.

One-liners

  • 1. NCERT was set up in 1961.
  • 2. NCERT is based in New Delhi and prepares the National Curriculum Framework.
  • 3. NCERT has Regional Institutes of Education at Ajmer, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Mysuru and Shillong.
  • 4. NCTE became a statutory body in 1995 under the 1993 Act.
  • 5. NCTE recognises teacher education courses and lays down norms.
  • 6. The UGC Act was passed in 1956.
  • 7. UGC gives grants and maintains university standards.
  • 8. CBSE took its present name in 1952 and was reconstituted in 1962.
  • 9. CBSE conducts CTET.
  • 10. NIEPA trains educational planners and administrators.
  • 11. RCI was made statutory by the Act of 1992.
  • 12. RCI maintains the Central Rehabilitation Register.

Practice questions

  1. The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) was set up in

    1. 1948
    2. 1986
    3. 1961
    4. 1975
    Answer

    C. 1961

    NCERT was established in 1961.

  2. NCERT's headquarters is in

    1. Pune
    2. Hyderabad
    3. Bengaluru
    4. New Delhi
    Answer

    D. New Delhi

    NCERT is at Sri Aurobindo Marg, New Delhi.

  3. Which body prepares the National Curriculum Framework for school education?

    1. UGC
    2. NCERT
    3. RCI
    4. NCTE
    Answer

    B. NCERT

    NCERT prepares the NCF and school textbooks.

  4. Which is a Regional Institute of Education of NCERT?

    1. Mysuru
    2. Lucknow
    3. Guwahati
    4. Nagpur
    Answer

    A. Mysuru

    RIEs are at Ajmer, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Mysuru and Shillong.

  5. The Central Institute of Educational Technology (CIET) is a unit of

    1. UGC
    2. NCERT
    3. CBSE
    4. NIEPA
    Answer

    B. NCERT

    CIET works under NCERT in New Delhi.

  6. The National Achievement Survey of student learning is conducted by

    1. NCERT
    2. NCTE
    3. UGC
    4. RCI
    Answer

    A. NCERT

    NCERT conducts the national learning surveys.

  7. The National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) became a statutory body in

    1. 1961
    2. 1956
    3. 2009
    4. 1995
    Answer

    D. 1995

    The NCTE Act was passed in 1993 and came into force in 1995.

  8. The NCTE Act was passed in

    1. 1992
    2. 1956
    3. 1993
    4. 2009
    Answer

    C. 1993

    The NCTE Act 1993 made NCTE a statutory body.

  9. Recognition of B.Ed and D.El.Ed courses and laying down teacher-education norms is done by

    1. NIEPA
    2. NCERT
    3. NCTE
    4. CBSE
    Answer

    C. NCTE

    NCTE regulates teacher education.

  10. The Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) guidelines for school teachers are issued under the authority of

    1. NIEPA
    2. NCTE
    3. RCI
    4. UGC
    Answer

    B. NCTE

    NCTE lays down minimum qualifications including TET for appointment as teacher.

  11. The University Grants Commission (UGC) was given statutory status by an Act of

    1. 1993
    2. 1961
    3. 1953
    4. 1956
    Answer

    D. 1956

    The UGC Act was passed in 1956.

  12. Which body gives grants to universities and maintains standards of university education?

    1. UGC
    2. NCERT
    3. RCI
    4. NIEPA
    Answer

    A. UGC

    This is the core function of the UGC.

  13. The headquarters of UGC is in

    1. Chennai
    2. Kolkata
    3. New Delhi
    4. Mumbai
    Answer

    C. New Delhi

    UGC is headquartered in New Delhi.

  14. The idea of a central grants body for universities came from the

    1. University Education Commission (Radhakrishnan Commission)
    2. Mudaliar Commission
    3. Kothari Commission
    4. Hunter Commission
    Answer

    A. University Education Commission (Radhakrishnan Commission)

    The Radhakrishnan Commission (1948-49) gave the idea of a UGC-type body.

  15. The NET for assistant professor eligibility is linked to the

    1. RCI
    2. NIEPA
    3. NCTE
    4. UGC
    Answer

    D. UGC

    UGC-NET is the eligibility test for assistant professor and fellowship.

  16. The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) took its present name in

    1. 1986
    2. 1962
    3. 1947
    4. 1929
    Answer

    B. 1962

    The board was reorganised and named CBSE in 1962.

  17. The CBSE has its roots in a board set up at Ajmer in

    1. 1911
    2. 1962
    3. 1975
    4. 1929
    Answer

    D. 1929

    A board for Rajputana was set up in 1929.

  18. Class 10 and Class 12 board examinations and school affiliation are the work of

    1. RCI
    2. UGC
    3. CBSE
    4. NCERT
    Answer

    C. CBSE

    CBSE is an examining and affiliating board.

  19. The Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) is conducted by

    1. CBSE
    2. RCI
    3. UGC
    4. NIEPA
    Answer

    A. CBSE

    CBSE conducts CTET for central schools.

  20. Kendriya Vidyalayas follow the curriculum of

    1. UGC
    2. CBSE
    3. RCI
    4. NIEPA
    Answer

    B. CBSE

    KVs are affiliated with CBSE.

  21. NIEPA stands for

    1. National Institute of Elementary Primary Assessment
    2. National Institute for Equal Public Access
    3. National Institution for Education Policy Analysis
    4. National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration
    Answer

    D. National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration

    NIEPA works on planning and administration of education.

  22. NIEPA mainly trains

    1. primary school students
    2. educational planners and administrators
    3. special educators only
    4. university examiners only
    Answer

    B. educational planners and administrators

    Its work is capacity building and research for planners and administrators.

  23. NIEPA got the status of a deemed university in

    1. 2006
    2. 1961
    3. 1995
    4. 2018
    Answer

    A. 2006

    NIEPA (earlier NUEPA) became a deemed university in 2006.

  24. The Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI) was made statutory by an Act of

    1. 2009
    2. 1961
    3. 1992
    4. 1956
    Answer

    C. 1992

    The RCI Act 1992 gave it statutory status.

  25. The Central Rehabilitation Register is maintained by

    1. CBSE
    2. RCI
    3. NCTE
    4. NAAC
    Answer

    B. RCI

    RCI maintains the register of qualified rehabilitation professionals.

  26. A special educator for children with disabilities needs a qualification recognised by

    1. UGC alone
    2. NIEPA
    3. CBSE
    4. RCI
    Answer

    D. RCI

    RCI recognises special-education courses.

  27. RCI works in the area of the Ministry of

    1. Social Justice and Empowerment
    2. Defence
    3. Railways
    4. Agriculture
    Answer

    A. Social Justice and Empowerment

    RCI is linked with disability empowerment.

  28. NAAC, which grades higher education institutions, is based at

    1. New Delhi
    2. Hyderabad
    3. Bengaluru
    4. Mumbai
    Answer

    C. Bengaluru

    NAAC is headquartered at Bengaluru.

  29. The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) was set up in

    1. 1961
    2. 1956
    3. 1945
    4. 1986
    Answer

    C. 1945

    AICTE began in 1945 and became statutory in 1987.

  30. Which pair of body and function is correct?

    1. UGC: school textbooks
    2. NIEPA: training of education planners
    3. NCERT: affiliating schools
    4. RCI: university grants
    Answer

    B. NIEPA: training of education planners

    NIEPA trains planners; UGC gives university grants, NCERT makes textbooks.

  31. Which body prepares the Andhra Pradesh State-level curriculum and textbooks?

    1. NIEPA
    2. UGC
    3. RCI
    4. SCERT
    Answer

    D. SCERT

    The State Council of Educational Research and Training works at State level.

  32. Which body is mainly responsible for teacher education curriculum framework (NCFTE)?

    1. NCTE
    2. CBSE
    3. NAAC
    4. UGC
    Answer

    A. NCTE

    NCTE issues the National Curriculum Framework for Teacher Education.

  33. The National Curriculum Framework issued in 2005 stressed

    1. private tuition
    2. learning without burden and the child as a constructor of knowledge
    3. rote learning
    4. exam coaching
    Answer

    B. learning without burden and the child as a constructor of knowledge

    NCF 2005 favoured constructivist, child-centred learning.

  34. Consider the following statements. Which of them is/are correct? 1. NCERT is a statutory body created by the NCTE Act. 2. NCERT was established in 1961.

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    B. 2 only

    NCERT is autonomous; the NCTE Act created NCTE, not NCERT.

  35. Consider the following statements. Which of them is/are correct? 1. The UGC Act was passed in 1956. 2. The UGC gives grants to universities.

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    C. Both 1 and 2

    Both are correct.

  36. Consider the following statements. Which of them is/are correct? 1. CBSE prepares NCERT textbooks. 2. CBSE conducts Class 10 and 12 examinations.

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    B. 2 only

    NCERT prepares textbooks; CBSE conducts examinations.

  37. Consider the following statements. Which of them is/are correct? 1. NIEPA is a school examination board. 2. NIEPA trains educational planners and administrators.

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    B. 2 only

    NIEPA is not a board.

  38. Consider the following statements. Which of them is/are correct? 1. RCI maintains the Central Rehabilitation Register. 2. RCI was made statutory by an Act of 1992.

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    C. Both 1 and 2

    Both are correct.

  39. Consider the following statements. Which of them is/are correct? 1. NCTE became statutory in 1995 through an Act of 1993. 2. NCTE began in 1973 as an advisory body.

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    C. Both 1 and 2

    Both statements are correct.

  40. Consider the following statements. Which of them is/are correct? 1. CBSE took its present name in 1962. 2. CBSE's roots go back to a board at Ajmer in 1929.

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    C. Both 1 and 2

    Both are correct.

  41. Consider the following statements. Which of them is/are correct? 1. NCERT has Regional Institutes of Education at Ajmer and Mysuru. 2. NCERT's Regional Institutes include one at Bhubaneswar.

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    C. Both 1 and 2

    Both are correct.

  42. Consider the following statements. Which of them is/are correct? 1. UGC conducts the Class 10 board examination. 2. UGC maintains standards of university education.

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    B. 2 only

    Class 10 examination is a CBSE or State board function.

  43. Consider the following statements. Which of them is/are correct? 1. RCI recognises training courses for special educators. 2. NCTE recognises B.Ed courses for general teachers.

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    C. Both 1 and 2

    Both are correct.

  44. Consider the following statements. Which of them is/are correct? 1. NAAC is a body that grades higher education institutions. 2. AICTE was set up in 1945.

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    C. Both 1 and 2

    Both are correct.

  45. A State wants to train its district education officers in planning and school leadership. Which national institute fits best?

    1. NAAC
    2. RCI
    3. CBSE
    4. NIEPA
    Answer

    D. NIEPA

    NIEPA offers capacity building for administrators.

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