• The National Council for Teacher Education (Amendment) Bill, 2017 was introduced by the Minister of Human Resource Development, Mr. Prakash Javadekar in Lok Sabha on December 18, 2017.

• The Bill amends the National Council for Teacher Education Act, 1993.  The Act establishes the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE).  The NCTE plans and co-ordinates the development of the teacher education system throughout the country.  It also ensures the maintenance of norms and standards in the teacher education system.  Key features of the 2017 Bill include:

• Retrospective recognition of certain teacher education institutions:  The Bill seeks to grant retrospective recognition to institutions: (i) notified by the central government, (ii) funded by the central government or state/union territory government, (iii) which do not have recognition under the Act, and (iv) which must have offered teacher education courses on or after the establishment of the NCTE until the academic year 2017-2018.

• Retrospective permission to start new courses:  The Bill also seeks to grant retrospective permission to start a new course or training in teacher education to institutions: (i) notified by the central government, (ii) funded by the central government or state/union territory government, (iii) which have satisfied certain conditions required for the conduct of a new course or training in teacher education, and (iv) which must have offered teacher education courses on or after the establishment of the NCTE until the academic year 2017-2018.

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