Major objectives of the NCERT and its constituent units are to:
1. Undertake, aid, promote and coordinate research in areas related to school education;
2. Prepare and publish model textbooks, supplementary material, newsletters, journals and other related literature;
3. Organize pre-service and in-service training of teachers;
4. Develop and disseminate innovative educational techniques and practices;
5. Collaborate and network with state educational departments, universities, NGOs and other educational institutions;
6. Act as a clearing house for ideas and information in matters related to school education;
7. Act as a nodal agency for achieving goals of universalization of elementary education.