UGC Notifies 54 New and Restructured Healthcare Degrees Under NCAHP
UGC has notified 33 new and 21 restructured UG and PG degrees in allied and healthcare fields, standardising curricula and professional standards.
The University Grants Commission (UGC) has formally notified 33 new and 21 restructured undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in allied and healthcare professions, marking a significant regulatory step towards standardising education in these fields.
The notification, issued as the 5th Amendment to the Specification of Degrees under Section 22(3) of the UGC Act, was gazetted on August 31, 2026. It brings degree nomenclature, course durations, and entry qualifications under a unified framework aligned with the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP) Act, 2021.
Covered disciplines include physiotherapy, occupational therapy, optometry, medical laboratory sciences, emergency medical technology, anaesthesia and operation theatre technology, nutrition and dietetics, psychology, medical radiology, and physician associate programmes, among others.
The notification also introduces specialisation-specific degrees, including nine specialisations in Master of Occupational Therapy, eight in Master of Physiotherapy, and four in Master of Medical Laboratory Sciences. This is intended to expand academic opportunities and allow universities to offer programmes tailored to evolving healthcare needs.
NCAHP Chairperson Dr. Yagna Unmesh Shukla said the move supports the 'One Nation, One Curriculum' mandate, providing clearer guidance to students pursuing careers in allied and healthcare professions.
NCAHP has already released 18 competency-based curricula covering 28 professions, with emphasis on hands-on clinical training through mandatory internships. States and union territories have been directed to implement these curricula from the 2026-27 academic year, with remaining curricula expected to be finalised for subsequent years.
The reforms aim to establish institutional parity, improve international recognition of Indian professionals, and strengthen the multidisciplinary healthcare workforce.