What are NCERT and SCERT? A Quick Guide for Students and Parents

As a student, parent or teacher in India, you might frequently come across NCERT and SCERT, which are two important organisations that influence school education in the country. But what are they? What do they do? Let’s understand it in simple terms.

What is NCERT?

National Council of Educational Research and Training, also known as NCERT, is an education body established by the Government of India in the year 1961 to improve the quality of school education in the country.

In simple terms, NCERT is the key driver of educational development in India. It designs the national curriculum framework, develops textbooks, creates teaching resources, and provides training guidelines mainly for the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) schools and many other affiliated boards.

A few critical facts about NCERT you need to know

1. It produces regular course books and study material for classes 1-12.
2. The NCERT books have generally been quite clear, simple and easy to read, hence they are commonly suggested as part of preparations in competitive exams, such as JEE, NEET, etc.
3. It operates such that in celebrating the cultural diversity of India, it promotes a unified national framework of education.
4. NCERT promotes research and innovations in teaching practices and teacher training throughout India.
5. It also publishes periodicals, supplementary books, learning kits and multimedia to support learning.

As an example, by studying in a school that is affiliated to the CBSE, you stick principally to the NCERT syllabus as well as textbooks. The NCERT enjoys a close working relationship with the Ministry of Education to ensure that the curriculum is currently in line with the development in the trends of education and the new policies laid out by the government, such as the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. 

What is SCERT?

SCERT refers to the State Council of Educational Research and Training. All states in India have their SCERT that functions closely like a mini NCERT. This means there are separate SCERTs of Odisha, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, etc, which govern the curricula of their schooling. 

SCERT refines and adapts the national curriculum developed by NCERT and alters it in a manner compatible with the local requirements, culture, language, and priorities of the state. It creates textbooks and teacher-training programs targeted towards schools that are connected with the state education boards.

Important facts about SCERT:

• It is in partnership with the NCERT and aligns education with the state-specific contexts.
• SCERT revises and determines the curriculum, and it meets local history or geography as well as regional languages.
• It operates state-level teacher training, research, curriculum development and evaluation programs.
• Schools that are affiliated with the state boards mainly follow the SCERT curriculum and textbooks.

NCERT vs SCERT

Feature	NCERT	SCERT
Level	National	State
Curriculum Scope	National Curriculum Framework (NCF) mainly for CBSE and central schools	Adapted state-specific curriculum aligned with NCF
Role	Develops uniform standards and materials	Customizes NCERT materials for local needs
Language Focus	Mainly Hindi, English, plus regional languages nationally	Focus on local state languages
Textbooks	Used widely by CBSE and many private schools	Used by state government schools
Training & Research	National teacher training programs and educational research	State-specific teacher training and research

Why NCERT and SCERT Are Important?

Both NCERT and SCERT make sure that education has been provided to all students with quality content that is relevant, fair, and inclusive. At this higher level exists the provision of the big picture and uniform standards by NCERT versus ensuring education is meaningful to children in their own state context, which SCERT does.

The National Curriculum Framework (NCF) created by NCERT is the backbone of most school education in India, and SCERT helps implement this framework effectively in each state.

Key Takeaway

NCERT is the national education research and training program with textbooks and curriculum focused mainly on central schools and CBSE. CERT is the education council responsible for creating and administering curricula of the state board schools, treating the local culture and language. Both collaborate to strategise quality, balanced, and inclusive education.

In addition, if the school is CBSE, you study from NCERT books; if it is a state board school, you study SCERT books (which are usually NCERTs with a slightly different curriculum). By understanding NCERT and SCERT, students as well as parents can understand how their textbooks and lessons are made and why they are designed the way they are. 

Moreover, for competitive exams and higher education, relying on NCERT books is highly recommended because of their clarity and aligned syllabus. This is why NCERTS are recommended for all the competitive exams in India.  

All in all, NCERT and SCERT are the sibling organisations that drive the Indian education system as well as educational developments in India.