National Council of Educational Research and Training
NCERT is India's apex autonomous body for school education, developing textbooks, curriculum frameworks, and teacher training programs for Classes 1-12 across all 28 states and 8 Union Territories, funded by the Ministry of Education and granted deemed-to-be university status in March 2026.
- Company typePublic
- Founded1961
- HeadquartersNew Delhi, India
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What National Council of Educational Research and Training does
National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) is an autonomous organization established in 1961 under India's Ministry of Education, functioning as the country's apex statutory body for school education. Its mandate covers curriculum and textbook development for Classes 1-12 aligned with the National Curriculum Framework and National Education Policy 2020, educational research, teacher training through programs such as NISHTHA, and large-scale assessments including the National Achievement Survey and National Talent Search Examination. NCERT serves all 28 states and 8 Union Territories and is the primary content supplier to CBSE schools, operating through a New Delhi headquarters, six constituent units (NIE, CIET, PSSCIVE, PARAKH), and six Regional Institutes of Education across Ajmer, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Mysuru, Nellore, and Shillong.
NCERT's core technology stack centers on digital content delivery via the e-Pathshala platform (PDF, ePub, flipbook formats) and DIKSHA (the national digital infrastructure for school education), supplemented by specialized products including the AI-powered e-Magic Box app for early childhood education, Jaadui Pitara for foundational learning, and the PRERANA experiential learning program. In March 2026 NCERT was granted deemed-to-be university status under Section 3 of the UGC Act, enabling it to offer programs from diploma to PhD level. Strategic technology partnerships with Microsoft (Elevate for Educators) and IIT Madras (AI-driven LMS, high-tech labs in 6,000 government schools) extend its AI and digital footprint.
NCERT is funded by the Government of India and is statutorily prohibited from commercial activity. Its revenue streams consist of government grants, nominal textbook sales through its publication division and Amazon storefront, professional services income from teacher training and assessment programs (NTSE), and emerging degree-program fees under its new university status. Pricing is predominantly freemium: free digital textbooks via e-Pathshala, subsidized physical textbooks, and free curriculum frameworks adopted by state education boards. Distribution is omnichannel — government-to-government, direct digital platforms, and institutional partnerships with CBSE, AICTE, NCVET, and DGT.
National Council of Educational Research and Training firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- National Council of Educational Research and Training
- Legal name
- National Council of Educational Research and Training
- Website
- https://ncert.nic.in
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 1961
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- NCERT is India's apex autonomous body for school education, developing textbooks, curriculum frameworks, and teacher training programs for Classes 1-12 across all 28 states and 8 Union Territories, funded by the Ministry of Education and granted deemed-to-be university status in March 2026.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
National Council of Educational Research and Training industry classification
Industry- Product category
- K-12 Education Services
- NAICS
- Educational Support Services (611710), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169), Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Core Subject Textbooks (ELA, Math, Science, Social Studies) (EDAGAAAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Core Digital Curriculum & Courseware (Full Programs & Units) (EDAFACAA), Early Learning Digital Curriculum & School Readiness Content (EDAFACAN), Domain-Specific Curriculum (Literacy, Numeracy, Science, SEL, Motor, Arts) (EDACAJAB)
Keywords
Where National Council of Educational Research and Training is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New Delhi
- HQ country
- India
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices7 records
Markets served
National Council of Educational Research and Training business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Textbook Sales: NCERT sells physical textbooks at nominal prices through its publication division and Amazon storefront
- Government Funding: As an autonomous organization under Ministry of Education, NCERT receives government funding for operations, curriculum development, and teacher training programs
- Examination Services: NCERT conducts National Talent Search Examination (NTSE) and other educational assessments
- Training Programs: Teacher training programs through NIS (NISHTHA) and other professional development initiatives
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free digital textbooks for Class 9 covering English, Mathematics, Science, and Sanskrit available on official website |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Physical textbooks sold at subsidized prices through NCERT publication division and Amazon |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels6 records
National Council of Educational Research and Training product offering
Product offeringCore offering
NCERT develops, publishes, and distributes school textbooks and supplementary educational materials for Classes 1-12 aligned with the National Curriculum Framework and NEP 2020, delivered through both physical bookstores and digital platforms (e-Pathshala, DIKSHA). It also provides national-level assessment services (NTSE, PARAKH surveys), teacher training programs (NISHTHA), curriculum advisory to state and central governments, and digital learning products including the AI-powered e-Magic Box app for early childhood education.
Product overview
NCERT operates as a comprehensive educational ecosystem comprising multiple interconnected products and programs. The core offerings include NCERT Textbooks (Classes 1-12) available both physically and digitally through ePathshala and DIKSHA platforms. Supporting products include Jaadui Pitara for foundational stage (ages 3-8), specialized textbooks like Khel Praveen (physical education) and Bansuri (art education), and the AI-powered e-Magic Box app for early childhood learning. Assessment is handled through PARAKH, which conducts NAS, SEAS, and FLN surveys. Programs include NTSE scholarships, NIPUN Bharat for foundational literacy/numeracy, ULLAS numeracy initiative, Kala Utsav arts competition, RBVP science exhibition, PRERANA experiential learning, and NIOSH/NISHTHA teacher training. NCERT gained deemed university status in 2026, enabling it to offer degree programs.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- ePathshala: Digital platform for accessing NCERT textbooks and educational content in electronic format
- DIKSHA
- Jaadui Pitara
- PARAKH
- ULLAS
- PRERANA
Products and services
- NCERT Textbooks (Classes 1-12)
- ePathshala Platform
- DIKSHA National Digital Infrastructure
- e-Magic Box App
- Jaadui Pitara
- PARAKH Assessment Center
- National Talent Search Examination (NTSE)
- NISHTHA Teacher Training Program
- Deemed University Degree Programs
- Khel Praveen (Physical Education Textbook)
- Bansuri (Art Education Book)
- Class 9 Social Science Textbook - Understanding Society: India and Beyond
- Class 9 English Textbook - Kaveri
- Class IX Hindi Textbook - Ganga
- Kala Utsav (National Arts Competition)
- PRERANA Experiential Learning Program
- ULLAS Numeracy Initiative Numeracy literacy initiative under NIPUN Bharat Mission focused on ensuring foundational numeracy skills for all children.
Quantifiable outcome
- Free digital textbooks for all Class 9 students covering English, Mathematics, Science, and Sanskrit
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use National Council of Educational Research and Training
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
National Council of Educational Research and Training technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability6 records
Feature4 records
National Council of Educational Research and Training partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- MicrosoftcoreMicrosoft launched Elevate for Educators in India, a program to skill 2 million teachers and reach 200,000 schools with AI literacy by 2030. India is the first country in Asia to receive this program. The initiative embeds AI literacy and computational thinking into curricula from Grade 3 onwards under NEP 2020, with NCERT as a key implementation partner along with CBSE, AICTE, NCVET, and DGT.
- IIT MadrascoreNCERT and IIT Madras signed MoU to enhance educational research, development, and technology integration. The collaboration includes building high-tech labs in 6,000 government schools and developing AI-driven learning management systems to improve educational outcomes.
- Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE)coreCBSE is NCERT's primary channel partner for implementing curriculum frameworks in affiliated schools. CBSE mandates NCERT textbooks and coordinates on three-language policy implementation and new NEP 2020 aligned content.
- AICTEmajorPartner in Microsoft Elevate for Educators program targeting 2 million teachers and 200,000 schools by 2030, integrating AI skills into technical and vocational education.
- NCVETmajorPartner in Microsoft AI skilling initiative for educator credentials tied to national AI Literacy Framework, supporting vocational education and training outcomes.
- Directorate General of Training (DGT)majorPartner in Microsoft AI skilling program reaching 8 million students across school, vocational and higher education systems.
- Amazon IndiaminorNCERT bookstore partnership enabling online retail sales of NCERT textbooks through Amazon India marketplace.
- University of Newcastle, AustraliaminorJoint Letter of Intent signed for international collaboration in educational research and innovation.
- Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC)coreNCERT partnered with CWC for Pan-India warehousing and logistics of textbooks, ensuring efficient distribution to schools across the country.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights6 records
National Council of Educational Research and Training competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE): CBSE is NCERT's primary implementation partner and mandates NCERT textbooks across all affiliated schools. As a national apex body under the Ministry of Education, CBSE is the most direct peer in India's K-12 ecosystem — both are quasi-governmental, both define national academic standards, and they operate as a tightly coupled curriculum-examination pair.
- National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE): NCTE is a statutory body under the Ministry of Education that regulates teacher education and prescribes norms for B.Ed and M.Ed programmes — directly overlapping with NCERT's deemed-university degree programmes through its Regional Institutes of Education. Comparable in mandate, structure, and government-parent relationship.
- National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS): NIOS is an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Education that delivers open schooling, secondary/senior secondary education, and vocational programmes. Comparable as a government apex body serving school-age learners with self-paced curricula and teacher training, much like NCERT.
Broad incumbents
- College Board: College Board is the U.S. non-profit that administers SAT/AP and develops K-12 curriculum frameworks — directly comparable to NCERT in combining national assessments (NTSE vs SAT) with curriculum influence, though operating at much larger scale with US$1B+ revenue.
- Pearson: Pearson is a global education publishing and assessment company with K-12 textbook programmes (e.g., Pearson Edexcel). Comparable as a large, established curriculum and assessment publisher, but operates commercially and globally while NCERT is publicly funded and India-only.
- Educational Testing Service (ETS): ETS develops and administers standardised tests (TOEFL, GRE) and conducts educational research — directly comparable to NCERT's PARAKH assessment centre and NTSE scholarship exam in providing national standardised assessment infrastructure.
- Scholastic Corporation: Scholastic is a major global children's book and educational content publisher with K-12 classroom magazines and curriculum kits. Comparable in K-12 educational publishing and supplementary materials, though operating commercially and globally.
Emerging players
- Khan Academy: Khan Academy provides free, standards-aligned digital curriculum and teacher resources for K-12 — directly comparable to NCERT's e-Pathshala and DIKSHA platforms in mission (free, high-quality digital learning) and core product (full curriculum coverage, teacher dashboards, multilingual content).
- Byju's: Byju's is India's largest private EdTech company offering K-12 supplementary learning content, test prep, and AI tutoring. Comparable as a K-12 curriculum-content provider in India, though operating commercially with paid tiers while NCERT offers free core curriculum.
Others
- UNESCO (Education Sector): UNESCO sets global education norms (e.g., SDG 4, Education 2030) and supports national curriculum bodies — thematically comparable to NCERT as a policy/curriculum thought leader, though operating internationally rather than as a single-country curriculum developer.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
National Council of Educational Research and Training social profiles
Digital presenceNational Council of Educational Research and Training compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
National Council of Educational Research and Training financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
National Council of Educational Research and Training leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles15 records
National Council of Educational Research and Training subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries10 records
National Council of Educational Research and Training funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
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National Council of Educational Research and Training M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about National Council of Educational Research and Training
What does National Council of Educational Research and Training do?
NCERT develops, publishes, and distributes school textbooks and supplementary educational materials for Classes 1-12 aligned with the National Curriculum Framework and NEP 2020, delivered through both physical bookstores and digital platforms (e-Pathshala, DIKSHA). It also provides national-level assessment services (NTSE, PARAKH surveys), teacher training programs (NISHTHA), curriculum advisory to state and central governments, and digital learning products including the AI-powered e-Magic Box app for early childhood education.
Is National Council of Educational Research and Training a public or private company?
National Council of Educational Research and Training is a public company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was National Council of Educational Research and Training founded?
National Council of Educational Research and Training was founded in 1961. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is National Council of Educational Research and Training based?
National Council of Educational Research and Training is headquartered in New Delhi, India, in the Asia region.
How does National Council of Educational Research and Training make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Textbook Sales are the primary driver. The others are government Funding, examination Services and training Programs.
Who are National Council of Educational Research and Training's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) and National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS). Broad incumbents are College Board, Pearson, Educational Testing Service (ETS) and Scholastic Corporation. Emerging players are Khan Academy and Byju's. UNESCO (Education Sector) is listed as an others.
Does National Council of Educational Research and Training have an API?
No public API is recorded for National Council of Educational Research and Training.
What industry is National Council of Educational Research and Training in?
National Council of Educational Research and Training's product category is K-12 Education Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAGAAAA, Core Subject Textbooks (ELA, Math, Science, Social Studies), with a secondary code of EDAFACAA, Core Digital Curriculum & Courseware (Full Programs & Units). Its NAICS code is 611710 and its SIC code is 8200.