UGC Notifies 54 New and Updated Allied Healthcare Degrees Under NCAHP
By : Sagar Reshi
The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is taking steps to strengthen education, training and professional standards in Allied and Healthcare Professions, with the aim of creating a skilled and future-ready healthcare workforce. Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
In a significant move, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has notified 33 new and 21 restructured or updated undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in Allied and Healthcare disciplines under the regulatory framework of the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP).
The UGC issued the 5th Amendment to the Specification of Degrees under Section 22(3) of the UGC Act, 1956, through Notification No. F.21-12/2026(CPP-II) – (UIN:3/2026), dated August 27, 2026. The Gazette notification was published on August 31.
The move is aimed at bringing greater uniformity to Allied and Healthcare education across India while strengthening academic and professional opportunities in these important healthcare fields.
NCAHP welcomes UGC notification
Welcoming the efforts of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, UGC and NCAHP, NCAHP Chairperson Dr Yagna Unmesh Shukla said the notification would help bring greater consistency to courses, degree names, course duration and entry qualifications.
She said the move would support the Commission’s “One Nation, One Curriculum” approach and provide clearer guidance to students planning careers in Allied and Healthcare Professions covered by the NCAHP Act, 2021.
33 new and 21 updated degrees
The newly notified and revised degrees cover a wide range of healthcare disciplines, including:
- Physiotherapy
- Occupational Therapy
- Optometry
- Medical Laboratory Sciences
- Emergency Medical Technology
- Anaesthesia and Operation Theatre Technology
- Nutrition and Dietetics
- Psychology
- Medical and Psychiatric Social Work
- Medical Radiology, Imaging and Therapeutic Technology
- Physician Associate
- Respiratory Technology
- Dialysis Therapy Technology
- Health Information Management
The notification sets out the degree nomenclature, abbreviations, course duration and entry qualifications. The duration of selected programmes has also been revised.
More specialised postgraduate programmes
The notification also provides for several specialisation-based postgraduate degrees.
These include nine specialisations in Master of Occupational Therapy, eight in Master of Physiotherapy, four in Master of Medical Laboratory Sciences, three in Master of Medical Radiology and Imaging Technology, and two in Master of Respiratory Technology.
The changes are expected to give students more options to specialise and allow universities to introduce programmes that meet the changing requirements of the healthcare sector.
Focus on national standards and global recognition
The reforms are intended to establish greater consistency in Allied and Healthcare education across institutions and align degree nomenclature with internationally recognised qualifications.
The government expects the changes to encourage more students to enter these professions while providing clearer academic and career pathways.
Standardised qualifications could also improve professional mobility and support greater international recognition of Indian Allied and Healthcare professionals.
Competency-based training to get greater focus
The reforms are part of NCAHP’s statutory responsibilities under the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions Act, 2021, which provides for regulating and maintaining standards of education and professional services in the sector.
NCAHP has already released 18 competency-based curricula covering 28 professions to standardise education and degree nomenclature across the country.
The curricula place particular emphasis on practical clinical training. Students are expected to receive adequate hands-on experience through internships at hospitals or other approved practising facilities.
This approach is designed to ensure that graduates develop the clinical skills, practical experience and professional competencies needed for effective healthcare delivery.
New curricula from 2026-27 academic year
To support the implementation of the reforms, NCAHP has already directed states, Union Territories and other stakeholders to implement the released competency-based curricula from the 2026-27 academic year.
The Commission has also provided an option to begin the Diploma in Medical Laboratory Technology (DMLT) course.
Meanwhile, work is continuing on the remaining competency-based curricula, which are expected to be implemented from the following academic year.
The latest measures are expected to strengthen India’s Allied and Healthcare workforce while giving students, universities and healthcare institutions greater clarity and consistency in education, training and professional development.
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