The University Grants Commission (UGC) has notified 33 new and 21 restructured/updated Undergraduate (UG) and Postgraduate (PG) degrees in the Allied and Healthcare sector under the regulatory framework of the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP).
The move is aimed at bringing greater uniformity to Allied and Healthcare education across India and providing students with clearer academic and professional pathways.
UGC Notification on Allied & Healthcare Degrees
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 27 August 2026.
The Gazette notification was published on 31 August 2026.
According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the notification is intended to promote greater consistency in course duration, degree nomenclature and entry qualifications across Allied and Healthcare programmes.
How Many Courses Have Been Notified?
The latest UGC notification covers:
33 new Allied & Healthcare UG and PG degrees
21 restructured/updated degrees
Revised degree nomenclature for specified programmes
Course duration and entry qualification details
Specialisation-specific postgraduate degrees
The reforms are being implemented within the NCAHP regulatory framework.
Major Allied & Healthcare Disciplines Covered
The notified degrees cover several important 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
These programmes are designed to support the development of trained professionals who contribute to multidisciplinary healthcare delivery.
New Specialisations in Postgraduate Programmes
The notification also provides for specialised postgraduate programmes.
The specialisation structure includes:
Master of Occupational Therapy – 9 specialisations
Master of Physiotherapy – 8 specialisations
Master of Medical Laboratory Sciences – 4 specialisations
Master of Medical Radiology and Imaging Technology – 3 specialisations
Master of Respiratory Technology – 2 specialisations
This provides students with additional opportunities to pursue specialised education in Allied and Healthcare fields.
One Nation, One Curriculum
One of the key objectives of the reform is to bring greater uniformity to Allied and Healthcare education under the “One Nation, One Curriculum” framework.
The notification specifies important academic details such as:
Degree nomenclature
Degree duration
Entry qualifications
Specialisations
Academic pathways
The reforms are intended to provide greater clarity for students, universities and healthcare institutions.
Implementation From Academic Year 2026-27
The NCAHP has directed states, Union Territories and relevant stakeholders to implement the released competency-based curricula from the 2026-27 academic year.
NCAHP has also been working on competency-based curricula across Allied and Healthcare disciplines. Earlier in 2026, the Commission released curricula covering areas such as Physiotherapy, Optometry, Nutrition and Dietetics, Medical Radiology and Imaging Technology, Dialysis Therapy, Health Information Management and other professions.
Why Is This Important for Students?
The new framework can provide students with clearer academic pathways in Allied and Healthcare professions.
The reforms focus on:
Standardised course structures
Clearer degree nomenclature
Competency-based education
Practical and clinical training
Specialised postgraduate education
Greater consistency across institutions
Improved professional mobility
Students planning careers in healthcare should check the latest course structure, eligibility requirements and admission rules of the university or institution before applying.
Allied Healthcare Sector in India
Allied Health Professionals are an important part of India's multidisciplinary healthcare system.
The Union Budget 2026-27 also announced measures to strengthen the Allied Healthcare workforce, including the goal of adding 1,00,000 additional Allied Health Professionals over five years.
The government has also allocated ₹1,000 crore in 2026 for the Allied Health Care Professionals scheme, according to a July 2026 PIB update.
Important Exam Facts
For SSC, Banking, Railway, UPSC, BPSC, Bihar STET and other competitive exams, remember these key facts:
UGC: University Grants Commission
NCAHP: National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions
NCAHP Act: 2021
New degrees notified: 33
Restructured/updated degrees: 21
UGC notification date: 27 August 2026
Gazette publication: 31 August 2026
Academic implementation: 2026-27
Regulatory framework: NCAHP
Framework: One Nation, One Curriculum
Official Information
Students and educational institutions should refer to official UGC and government notifications for the latest course names, eligibility requirements and implementation details.
UGC – University Grants Commission:
Official UGC Website
UGC – Notifications on Specification of Degrees:
UGC Degree Notifications
Official Government Announcement:
PIB – UGC Notifies New Allied & Healthcare Degrees
Conclusion
The UGC's notification of 33 new and 21 restructured Allied and Healthcare degrees marks an important development in India's healthcare education system. The reforms focus on standardising degree structures, improving academic pathways and strengthening competency-based education under the NCAHP framework.
For students interested in healthcare careers beyond conventional medical and nursing programmes, these developments are important to track when planning higher education and career options.