National Council of Educational Research and Training

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.

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

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

• School education curriculum
• Educational research services
• Textbook publishing
• Teacher training programs
• Educational technology platforms

Headquarters

HQ city

New Delhi

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Textbook Sales: NCERT sells physical textbooks at nominal prices through its publication division and Amazon storefront
2. Government Funding: As an autonomous organization under Ministry of Education, NCERT receives government funding for operations, curriculum development, and teacher training programs
3. Examination Services: NCERT conducts National Talent Search Examination (NTSE) and other educational assessments
4. Training Programs: Teacher training programs through NIS (NISHTHA) and other professional development initiatives

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core 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

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability6 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• MicrosoftcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 February 2026Microsoft 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 MadrascoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 October 2025NCERT 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)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCBSE 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.
• AICTEmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner in Microsoft Elevate for Educators program targeting 2 million teachers and 200,000 schools by 2030, integrating AI skills into technical and vocational education.
• NCVETmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner 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)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner in Microsoft AI skilling program reaching 8 million students across school, vocational and higher education systems.
• Amazon IndiaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNCERT bookstore partnership enabling online retail sales of NCERT textbooks through Amazon India marketplace.
• University of Newcastle, AustraliaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint Letter of Intent signed for international collaboration in educational research and innovation.
• Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNCERT 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

Direct 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

• Xtwitter.com/ncert
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/national-council-of-educational-research-and-training-ncert-

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Subsidiaries10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about National Council of Educational Research and Training