Higher education institutions and regulators

Key bodies and what they do

• UGC (University Grants Commission): set up in 1953 and made a statutory body in 1956; funds and maintains standards in universities.
• NCTE (National Council for Teacher Education): a statutory body under the NCTE Act, 1993; regulates teacher-education programmes such as B.Ed. and ITEP.
• NCERT (National Council of Educational Research and Training): set up in 1961; prepares curriculum frameworks and model textbooks for schools.
• AICTE (All India Council for Technical Education): regulates technical education such as engineering and management.
• NAAC (National Assessment and Accreditation Council): set up in 1994, headquartered in Bengaluru; assesses and accredits higher-education institutions.
• NTA (National Testing Agency): conducts entrance exams such as NCET, NEET, JEE Main and CUET.