12. Functions of the Council.—It shall be the duty of the Council to take all such steps as it may
think fit for ensuring planned and co-ordinated development of teacher education and for the
determination and maintenance of standards for teacher education and for the purposes of performing its
functions under this Act, the Council may—
(a) undertake surveys and studies relating to various aspects of teacher education and publish the
result thereof;
(b) make recommendations to the Central and State Government, Universities, University Grants
Commission and recognised institutions in the matter of preparation of suitable plans and
programmes in the field of teacher education;
(c) co-ordinate and monitor teacher education and its development in the country;
(d) lay down guidelines in respect of minimum qualifications for a person to be employed as a
teacher 1*** in recognised institutions;
(e) lay down norms for any specified category of courses or trainings in teacher education,
including the minimum eligibility criteria for admission thereof, and the method of selection of
candidates, duration of the course, course contents and mode of curriculum;
(f) lay down guidelines for compliance by recognised institutions, for starting new courses or
training, and for providing physical and instructional facilities, staffing pattern and staff qualification;
1. The words “in schools or” omitted by Act 18 of 2011, s. 5 (w.e.f. 1-6-2012).
8
(g) lay down standards in respect of examinations leading to teacher education qualifications,
criteria for admission to such examinations and schemes of courses or training;
(h) lay down guidelines regarding tuition fees and other fees chargeable by recognised
institutions;
(i) promote and conduct innovation and research in various areas of teacher education and
disseminate the results thereof;
(j) examine and review periodically the implementation of the norms, guidelines and standards
laid down by the Council, and to suitably advise the recognised institutions;
(k) evolve suitable performance appraisal system, norms and mechanisms for enforcing
accountability on recognised institutions;
(l) formulate schemes for various levels of teacher education and identify recognised institutions
and set up new institutions for teacher development programmes;
(m) take all necessary steps to prevent commercialisation of teacher education; and
(n) perform such other functions as may be entrusted to it by the Central Government.
1
[12A. Power of Council to determine minimum standards of education of school teachers.—For
the purpose of maintaining standards of education in schools, the Council may, by regulations, determine
the qualifications of persons for being recruited as teachers in any pre-primary, primary, upper primary,
secondary, senior secondary or intermediate school or college, by whatever name called, established, run,
aided or recognised by the Central Government or a State Government or a local or other authority:
Provided that nothing in this section shall adversely affect the continuance of any person recruited in
any pre-primary, primary, upper primary, secondary, senior secondary or intermediate schools or
colleges, under any rule, regulation or order made by the Central Government, a State Government, a
local or other authority, immediately before the commencement of the National Council for Teacher
Education(Amendment)Act, 2011 (18 of 2011) solelyon the ground of non-fulfilment of such
qualifications as may be specified by the Council:
Provided further that the minimum qualifications of a teacher referred to in the first proviso shall be
acquired within the period specified in this Act or under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory
Education Act, 2009 (35 of 2009).]
13. Inspection.—(1) For the purpose of ascertaining whether the recognised institutions are
functioning in accordance with the provisions of this Act, the Council may cause inspection of any such
institution, to be made by such persons as it may direct, and in such manner as may be prescribed.
(2) The Council shall communicate to the institution the date on which inspection under
sub-section (1) is to be made and the institution shall be entitled to be associated with the inspection in
such manner as may be prescribed.
(3) The Council shall communicate to the said institution, its views in regard to the results of any such
inspection and may, after ascertaining the opinion of that institution, recommend to that institution the
action to be taken as a result of such inspection.
(4) All communications to the institution under this section shall be made to the executive authority
thereof, and the executive authority of the institution shall report to the Council the action, if any, which
is proposed to be taken for the purpose of implementing any such recommendation as is referred to in
sub-section (3).