Central Institute of Educational Technology (CIET) is a constituent unit of the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), an autonomous organization under the Ministry of Human Resources Development, Government of India. Established in 1984 with the merger of the Centre of Educational Technology and Department of Teaching Aids, its chief aim is to promote Educational Technology especially mass media singly or in combinations (multimedia packages) to extend educational opportunities and improve quality of educational processes at the school level.

As a premier institute of Educational Technology at the apex level, major functions of the CIET are

a. To design, develop,try out and disseminate alternative learning systems to achieve the national goal of universalisation of primary education.

b. To address various educational problems at micro, meso and macro levels.

The d areas of activities of the CIET are as given below:

To design and produce media software materials viz., television/ radio (for both broadcast as well as non-broadcast use) film, graphics and other programmes for strengthening the transaction of curricular and co-curricular activities at the school level.
To create competencies in development and use of educational software materials mentioned above through training in areas such as script development,media production,media communication,media research,technical operations,setting up studios,repair and maintenance of equipment.
To develop plans for the use of Information and Communication Technologies in education.
To train the faculty of Institutes of Advanced Study in Education/Colleges of Teacher Education and District Institutes of Education and Training in the use of Educational Technology in their teacher education programmes.
To undertake research, evaluation and monitoring of the systems, programmes and materials with a view to improving the materials and increasing their effectiveness.
To document and disseminate information, materials and media programmes for better utilization and to function as a clearing house / agency in the field of Educational Technology.
To advise and coordinate the academic and technical programmes and activities of the State Institutes of Educational Technology (SIETs) set up by the MHRD in six states of India.

Major Functions of CIET

Design, develop and disseminate alternative learning systems
Promote Educational Technology
Train Personnel in Educational Technology
Advise & Co-ordinate activities of SIETs
Provide Consultancy and media support to other constituents of NCERT