Nearly 3,000 Teacher Training Colleges Derecognised by NCTE Ahead of 2025-26 Admissions

The decision has had a widespread impact, particularly in states like Uttar Pradesh, which accounted for 1,059 of the total deregistered institutions, followed by Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka.

The National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) has withdrawn recognition from 2,962 Teacher Education Institutions (TEIs) across India for failing to comply with mandatory academic and administrative reporting requirements. The derecognition is effective immediately and bars these colleges from admitting students for the academic session 2025–26.

The move comes after NCTE observed that these institutions failed to submit their Performance Appraisal Reports (PARs) for two consecutive years — 2021–22 and 2022–23 — despite repeated extensions and reminders. The PAR system, introduced in 2019, mandates institutions to upload verifiable data including infrastructure details, faculty qualifications, audited accounts, and geo-tagged evidence. Following multiple deadline extensions, including a final cut-off of December 30, 2024, NCTE had issued show-cause notices to non-compliant institutions in early 2025. After reviewing the responses, regional committees under Section 17 of the NCTE Act, 1993, recommended derecognition.

The decision has had a widespread impact, particularly in states like Uttar Pradesh, which accounted for 1,059 of the total deregistered institutions — the highest in the country. Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka also saw significant numbers of colleges losing their status. These institutions will not be permitted to admit new students for the 2025–26 session, although those already enrolled in previous batches will be allowed to complete their courses. Colleges have been given an option to appeal under Section 18 of the NCTE Act within 60 days through the official online portal.

NCTE officials defended the move, stating that the regulatory body had provided ample time and support for institutions to comply. Harish Chandra Singh Rathore, Chairperson of the Northern Regional Committee of NCTE, said that continued non-compliance despite multiple opportunities left the council with no choice. Some institutions have already initiated the appeal process, seeking a reversal of the decision, while others face operational uncertainty and reputational damage.

The derecognition of nearly 3,000 teacher training colleges — about 14% of all TEIs in India — is expected to significantly affect aspiring B.Ed. and M.Ed. students across the country. Many may now be forced to seek admission in the remaining recognized institutions, which could lead to increased competition and reduced availability of seats. This large-scale action by NCTE also aligns with the broader reforms envisioned under the National Education Policy 2020, which places strong emphasis on quality assurance, transparency, and institutional accountability in teacher education.

As stakeholders await the outcomes of appeal proceedings, the move is being seen as a strong message from NCTE that laxity in regulatory compliance will not be tolerated. While the council’s action has drawn support from quality-focused educators, it has also raised concerns among students and staff associated with the affected institutions, many of whom now face an uncertain future.

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