A Guide to India Education Resources on the Web
Links on this page:
- Education System Overview:
- Government Bodies:
- Professional Councils:
- Vocational Training:
- Professional Associations:
- Major Research Bodies:
- Perspectives on Indian Engineering Education:
A. Education System Overview
The following provide reliable overviews of the Indian education system:
International Association of Universities
An outline of the Indian education system by the International Association of Universities, UNESCO
UNESCO International Bureau of Education — India Resources
A UNESCO body, the IBE maintains and builds networks to share expertise on curriculum development and education structures in all regions of the world. The resources available from IBE include a detailed overview of the Indian education system, conference and seminar notes, reports presented by the Indian government, curriculum and syllabus resources, and bibliographic resources.
WENR: Education in India
A detailed overview of the Indian education system prepared by World Education Service
Other India-related articles published in WENR
- India: The Private Sector Emerges in Higher Education
- Indian Universities on the Upswing
- Quality Assurance in Indian Higher Education
India-related articles from International Higher Education (Boston College)
B. Government Bodies
The Ministry of Human Resource Development
The Ministry of Human Resource Development is the top administrative body for education planning and policy. The ministry is divided into two junior ministries:
1. The Department of School Education and Literacy
Under the Department of School Education and Literacy is the National Council of Teacher Education (NCTE) <http://www.ncte-in.org/> which is the regulatory body for teacher education. From the NCTE website you can access a list of recognized teacher training institutions <http://www.ncte-in.org/discl.htm>.
Testing at the end of lower and higher secondary school is conducted by either state or All-India (national) boards of education. The boards also set curriculum and award certificates. There are 31 state boards <http://www.education.nic.in/circulars/boards.asp> and three All-India boards:
- Central Board of Secondary Education: http://www.cbse.nic.in
- Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations: http://www.cisce.org
- National Institute for Open schooling: http://www.nios.org
The boards receive academic and research support from the government-sponsored National Council for Educational Research and Training <http://www.ncert.nic.in/welcome1.asp>. Curriculum standards and guidelines are available from http://www.ncert.nic.in/html/
schoolcurriculum.htm. The National University of Educational Planning and Administration also offers policy and curriculum advice to government agencies http://www.nuepa.org.
2. The Department of Higher Education
Useful resources available from the Department of Higher Education website include:
- Statistics http://www.education.nic.in/stats.asp
- University listings http://www.education.nic.in/higedu.asp
- System overview http://www.education.nic.in/sector.asp
As many as 90 agencies and professional councils operate under the umbrella of the Department of Higher Education. The professional councils are responsible for recognizing programs and institutions, maintaining standards and disseminating funds. The most important bodies under the Department of Higher Education are the University Grants Council and the All India Council for Technical Education. Other professional councils are listed in the next section.
University Grants Commission (UGC)
The UGC was established as an autonomous statutory authority charged with coordinating and maintaining academic standards. It is also responsible for distributing government grants to public universities. Universities listed by the UGC are recognized as degree-granting institutions. More recently, the National Assessment and Accreditation Council has been established as an autonomous body under the UGC responsible for the accreditation of UGC-recognized universities and colleges.
- University Listings: http://www.ugc.ac.in/inside/deemeduniv.html
- College Listings: http://www.ugc.ac.in/inside/ugc_recog_college.html
- Statistics: http://www.ugc.ac.in/inside/statistics.html
- Diploma Mills: http://www.ugc.ac.in/inside/fakealerts.html
- National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC): http://naacindia.org/
- NAAC-Accredited Institutions: http://www.naac-india.com/accreditedall.asp
All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE)
The AICTE regulates technical programs and institutions in many disciplines, including engineering, technology, architecture, town planning, management, pharmacy, applied arts and crafts, hotel management and catering technology. Resources on the AICTE website include:
- AICTE-Approved Programs (2006/07): http://www.aicte.ernet.in/newtechins.htm
- Approved programs by level: http://www.aicte.ernet.in/ApprovedInstitute.htm
- National Board of Accreditation: http://www.nba-aicte.ernet.in/
- NBA Statistics: http://www.nba-aicte.ernet.in/stat.htm
- NBA-Accredited Programs: http://www.nbaaicte.ernet.in/nmna.htm
Other Important Education-Related Ministries and Government Bodies
- Planning Commission: http://planningcommission.nic.in/
- National Knowledge Commission: http://www.knowledgecommission.gov.in/
- Ministry of Health: http://mohfw.nic.in/
- Ministry of Health Education Division: http://mohfw.nic.in/AAAmed.htm
- Provides listings of recognized medical, dental and specialty colleges, in addition to a listing of recognized medical awards
- Provides listings of recognized medical, dental and specialty colleges, in addition to a listing of recognized medical awards
- Department of Science & Technology: http://dst.gov.in/
- Listing of autonomous research institutes: http://dst.gov.in/autonomous /autonomous_index.htm
- Science and Engineering Research Council: http://www.serc-dst.org/
- Ministry of Agriculture: http://agricoop.nic.in/
- Indian Council of Agricultural Research: http://www.icar.org.in/
C. Professional Councils
The following councils provide listings of recognized institutions in their specific disciplines on the websites listed below:
- Distance Education Council: http://www.dec.ac.in/
- Indian Council for Agriculture Research: http://www.icar.org.in/
- Bar Council of India (BCI): http://www.barcouncilofindia.nic.in/
- Medical Council of India (MCI): http://www.mciindia.org/
- Pharmacy Council of India: http://www.pci.nic.in/
- Indian Nursing Council: http://mohfw.nic.in/kk/95/ib/95ib0301.htm
- Dentist Council of India: http://www.dciindia.org/
- Central Council of Homeopathy: http://www.cchindia.com/
- Central Council of Indian Medicine: http://www.ccimindia.org/
- The Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR): http://www.icssr.org/
- Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR): http://www.ichrindia.org/
- Indian Council of Philosophical Research (ICPR): http://icpr.nic.in/
- Institute of Chartered Accountants of India: http://www.icai.org/
- Council of Architecture: http://www.coa.gov.in/
- National Council of Rural Institutes: http://www.ncri.in/
- Department of Electronics Accreditation of Computer Courses: https://www.doeacc.edu.in/index.jsp
- An autonomous body under the Department of Information Technology that has been established in recent years to “accredit, examine, and monitor computer training and education in the ‘non-formal’ sector.” The DOEACC maintains a database of accredited institutions and accreditation ratings on its website at: https://www.doeacc.edu.in/jsp/accr_rating.htm
D. Vocational Training
Ministry of Labour and Rehabilitation
The ministry has overall responsibility for vocational training. A list of ministry-recognized industrial training institutes/centers (ITI/C) is available from http://dget.gov.in/lisdapp/nvtis/nvtis.htm.
Central Institute of Vocational Education
An advisory body that works in coordination with the Joint Council of Vocational Education to set curriculum and quality standards among all bodies and departments within the vocational sector
National Council for Vocational Training
The NCVT sets standards and curriculum in the trades, conducts All India trade tests and awards National Trade Certificates
E. Professional Associations
Association of Indian Universities
Established in 1923, the AIU plays a major role in coordinating the university sector, and is a vital source of information on Indian universities and their programs. Published biannually, The Handbook of Indian Universities is the ‘go-to’ resource for information on university-level institutions, and a must have for any international admissions office. The AIU is also very active on policy issues pertaining to university education, especially as relates to the internationalization of Indian education. The AIU evaluates foreign academic credentials and provides information to international students wishing to study in India.
Indian Academy of Sciences
Other science associations
F. Major Research Bodies
- Indian Council of Scientific and Industrial Research: http://www.csir.res.in/
Centers and Labs - Indian Council of Social Science Research: http://www.icssr.org/
Institutes and Centers: http://www.icssr.org/riandrc_main.htm - Indian Council of Agricultural Research: http://www.icar.org.in/
State Agricultural Universities: http://www.icar.org.in/sau.htm - Indian Council of Medical Research:
Research centers and institutes: http://www.icmr.nic.in/pinst.htm
G. Perspectives on Indian Engineering Education
- “India Weak at Technical Research and Education” — (SciDev.Net, November 2006)
- “Engineering Gap? Fact and Fiction” — (Business Week, July 2006)
- “Engineering education: Can India overtake China?” — (Rediff, June 2006)
- “Quality vs. Quantity in Engineering” — (Inside Higher Ed., March 2006)
http://insidehighered.com/layout/set/print/news/2006/03/03/engineers - “In India, Engineering Success” — (Washington Post, January 2006)
- “About That Engineering Gap…” — (Business Week, December 2005)
- “Framing the Engineering Outsourcing Debate: Placing the United States on a Level Playing Field with China and India” — (Duke School of Engineering, December 2005)
www.soc.duke.edu/resources/public…/duke_outsourcing.pdf - “Competency Focused Engineering Education with Reference to IT Related Disciplines: Is the Indian System Ready for Transformation?” — (Journal of Information Technology, Volume 5 2006)
http://www.jite.org/documents/Vol5/V5p027-052Goel88.pdf - “Indian Firms Facing Talent Crunch” — (BBC, October 2006)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/5409252.stm - “Indian Institutes of Technology: Report of the Review Committee-2004” — (Current Science, February 2006) http://www.iisc.ernet.in/currsci/feb252006/485.pdf
- “Indian Institutes of Technology: Report of the Review Committee”
http://www.iitk.ac.in/infocell/iitk/newhtml/reviewcom.htm - “Warning Bells” — (Frontline, March 2004)
http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl2106/stories/20040326003610500.htm
A review of the government-appointed U.R. Rao Committee’s report on the performance of the AICTE - “An Interview with U.R. Rao” — (Rediff.com, February 2004) http://in.rediff.com/money/2004/feb/11inter.htm
- “Wanted: More Science, More Scientists” — (The Hindu, August 2006) http://www.hindu.com/seta/2006/08/24/stories/2006082400751500.htm
- “India’s Faltering Education System” — (BBC, August 2006) http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4793311.stm
- “India’s Engineering Teachers Flee Classroom for Hot Jobs” — (Christian Science Monitor, July 2005) http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0713/p07s01-wosc.html
- “Does the US Face an Engineering Gap?” — (Christian Science Monitor, December 2005) http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/1220/p01s01-ussc.html
- “Techies, we Have a Problem” — (Rediff.com, November 2005) http://in.rediff.com/money/2005/nov/29bspec.htm