The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) is an autonomous organization established in 1961 by the Government of India to advise central and state governments on education policies. NCERT was formed by merging several existing education institutions. It undertakes research, curriculum development, training, publishing, and international collaboration in order to improve school education quality and teacher training. NCERT's activities include developing curricula and textbooks, conducting educational research, training teachers, and organizing outreach programs for disadvantaged groups.