The National School of Drama was founded in 1959 by the Sangeet Natak Akademi as an open institute. In 1975, it became a self-contained institution. Sanskaar Rang Toli, a theatre-in-education company, was founded by the institute in 1989. NSD offers a full time three year Postgraduate course in Dramatic Arts. NSD admissions are one in two phases where the aspirant has to qualify the test/ auditions in the first phase followed by the workshop in the second phase.