The National Council for Teacher Education is a statutory body envisaged for overhauling the system of teacher education The main objective of the NCTE is to achieve planned and coordinated development of the teacher education system throughout the country, the regulation and proper maintenance of Norms and Standards in the teacher education system and for matters connected therewith. The mandate given to the NCTE is very broad and covers the whole gamut of teacher education programmes including research and training of persons for equipping them to teach at pre-primary, primary, secondary and senior secondary stages in schools, and non-formal education, part-time education, adult education and distance (correspondence) education courses. It undertakes surveys and studies relating to various aspects of teacher education and publish the result thereof; make recommendations to the Central and State Government, Universities, University Grants Commission and recognized institutions in the matter of preparation of suitable plans and programmes in the field of teacher education; It co-ordinate and monitors teacher education and its development in the country; lay down guidelines regarding tuition fees and other fees chargeable by recognized institutions.

It promotes and conducts innovation and research in various areas of teacher education and disseminate the results thereof; NCTE completed and notified the revised Regulations 2014, along with Norms and Standards for 15 programmes on November 28, 2014 under Government of India Gazette Notification No.346 (F.No. 51-1/2014/NCTE/N&S) by the recommendations of the Justice Verma Commission (JVC) appointed by the Government at the instance of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India. The JVC had suggested wide range reforms in Teacher Education which the new Regulations 2014 have addressed. The new Regulations are an outcome of wider consultations with stakeholders undertaken by NCTE. The important highlights of Regulations 2014 are as under: A wide basket with 15 programmes is on offer, recognizing for the first time three new programmes – 4-year B.A/B.Sc.B.Ed., 3-year B.Ed. (Part-time), and 3-year B.Ed.-M.Ed. programme More integrated teacher education programmes are encouraged. Centralized computerized visiting team for transparent use by both HQs and Regional Committees for inspection/monitoring Each teacher education institution to have compulsory accreditation in every 5 years from an accrediting agency recognized by NCTE. (An MoU has already been signed with NAAC in this regard).