Abstract

The government of India established NCTE (National Council of Teacher Education) in May, 1973 which has been set up by Act of Parliament to provide the guidance for the development of teacher education and to regulate and maintain norms and standards in the system of teacher education. Teacher Education is concerned with the qualitative as well as qualitative aspects of teacher education including both present and prospective teachers in the form of training and education to fulfill the desired needs of the hour. The statutory implications for an affiliating or examining body are that the affiliation will be granted to only those institutes which have been recognized by the NCTE. It is mandatory for teacher education institutions to fulfill certain minimum norms and standards prescribed by NCTE. Quality improvement, innovations and coordinated development in teacher education are the assigned working areas of NCTE. It plays a significant prominent role in the present status of teacher education. In the recent past many reformist approaches initiated by the NCTE have proved as milestones or landmarks in teacher education system. This paper deals with objectives, various functions performed by NCTE, the present status of teacher education system and NCTE’s role by various norms and standards prescribed time to time.