India, Oct. 7 -- The Government of India has issued a release:
The National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, has notified measures under the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions Act, 2021 to strengthen standards in allied and healthcare education and professional practice. These include the Autonomous Boards and Central Assessment Committee (Establishment, Constitution, Functions and Powers) Regulations, 2026, the competency-based curriculum for the Diploma in Medical Radiology and Imaging Technology (D.MRIT) and the Registration of Allied and Healthcare Professionals Regulations, 2026.
The measures provide for institutional assessment and quality assurance, competency-based education and training and a structured system for registration and verification of allied and healthcare professionals.
Strengthening institutional standards through Autonomous Boards and Central Assessment Committee
The National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP) has notified the following regulations - (a) Registration of Allied and Healthcare Professionals Regulations, 2026 (b) Autonomous Boards and Central Assessment Committee (Establishment, Constitution, Functions and Powers) Regulations, 2026, under the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions Act, 2021. The Regulations provide a framework for strengthening institutional assessment, quality assurance and implementation of standards for recognised courses.
Salient Features of the Regulations
Central Assessment Committee (CAC)
Towards Standardised and Quality driven Allied and Healthcare Education
Competency-based education to meet growing demand for trained imaging professionals
With the objective of standardising education and training, NCAHP has notified the competency-based curriculum for the Diploma in Medical Radiology and Imaging Technology (D.MRIT) on 30th September 2026 under One Nation One Curriculum for the Allied and Healthcare sector.
Institutions imparting or intending to impart the D.MRIT course must mandatorily adopt the curriculum from the academic year 2027-28. Institutes desiring to implement it during the academic year 2026-27 may adopt the curriculum from that academic year.
The Diploma programme has been developed keeping in view the growing requirement for trained professionals in Medical Radiology and Imaging services at Primary Health Centres (PHCs), hospitals, diagnostic centres and other healthcare facilities. There has also been demand from students and stakeholders for an appropriate diploma-level programme in the field of Radiology and Imaging.
The D.MRIT is a two-year programme for students who have completed Class 12 in the Science stream with Physics, Chemistry and Biology (PCB) from a recognised Board or equivalent. The curriculum represents a transition from traditional, knowledge-oriented education towards a competency-based approach, with emphasis on the acquisition of Knowledge, Skills, Values and Attitudes required for safe, effective and ethical practice in Medical Radiology and Imaging services.
An important component of the programme is a six-month internship, designed to provide students with structured hands-on clinical exposure and opportunities to apply theoretical knowledge in real-world healthcare settings. The internship will facilitate the development of practical skills, professional competencies, patient-care practices, radiation safety practices and familiarity with imaging procedures and equipment under appropriate supervision.
The curriculum is designed to ensure that professionals completing the programme acquire the requisite theoretical knowledge, practical skills and professional competencies to function in Medical Radiology and Imaging and contribute effectively to diagnostic services such as X-rays, CT Scan, Sonography, Mammography and Fluoroscopy, while adhering to prescribed standards of patient safety, radiation protection, quality assurance and professional practice.
The notification of the Diploma programme complements the competency-based education framework already established by the Commission for higher levels of education in the discipline. The Bachelor of Medical Radiology and Imaging Technology (B.MRIT) and Master of Medical Radiology and Imaging Technology (M.MRIT) competency-based curricula were earlier released by the Commission vide notice dated 24th April 2025, for implementation from the academic year 2026-27.
The introduction of the D.MRIT curriculum alongside the existing Bachelor's and Master's programmes provides a structured educational pathway in Medical Radiology and Imaging Technology and is aimed at supporting the availability of appropriately trained professionals while promoting uniformity, standardisation and quality in Allied and Healthcare education across the country.
The Commission has so far released 20 competency-based curricula across various Allied and Healthcare Professions. These curricula have been developed with the objective of strengthening competency-based education, standardising training and ensuring that students acquire the knowledge, skills and professional attributes required for contemporary healthcare delivery.
Registration framework to strengthen transparency and verification of professionals
The Registration of Allied and Healthcare Professionals Regulations, 2026, notified by NCAHP and published in the Gazette of India on 15th September 2026, establish a comprehensive framework for registration of allied and healthcare professionals in both the State Registers and the Central Register, along with issuance of certificates of registration with Unique Identification (UID) numbers through an online system.
A person will be entitled to practise a recognised allied and healthcare profession only after obtaining registration in accordance with the Regulations. Eligibility requires holding a recognised primary qualification. Professionals residing in a State or Union Territory where a functional State Council has not yet been established may register directly with the Central Register.
Registration will remain valid for five years and may be renewed upon fulfilment of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) requirements through approved online and offline modes.
The Regulations provide for real-time synchronisation between the State Registers and the Central Register through an integrated online system. The Central and State Registers will be accessible to the public through the websites of the Commission and the respective State Councils, displaying prescribed particulars of registered professionals and enabling verification of registration status.
Every registered professional will be issued a Unique Identification (UID) number through the centralised system. Registration certificates, including digital certificates featuring the UID and a secure QR code, will be issued by the Commission or the respective State Council, facilitating identification and verification of registered professionals.
The Regulations also provide for interim registration for students enrolled in recognised institutions who are undertaking internships, clinical training, observerships or practical coursework required to complete an allied and healthcare qualification. Interim registration must be initiated by the recognised institution and obtained from the concerned State Council, with no fee charged for interim registration applications.
The Regulations establish a pathway for Indian citizens holding foreign qualifications in allied and healthcare. A foreign-qualified allied and healthcare professional will be eligible to apply for registration where the qualification is recognised by the Commission or the prescribed credential equivalency evaluation has been completed, along with the relevant exit examination where applicable. Temporary registration is also provided for eligible foreign-qualified Indian professionals for specific, time-bound purposes including postgraduate or specialty education, fellowships, clinical research, observerships, advanced workshops, expert visits and voluntary community service.
The Regulations permit temporary registration for sponsored foreign professionals for specific, timebound purposes. They also provide for Good Standing Certificates for registered allied and healthcare professionals pursuing foreign education, carrying out professional activities or participating in student exchange programmes outside India.
The Commission is undertaking efforts to introduce provisional registration for professionals currently practising in the allied and healthcare sector who lack the prescribed primary qualifications. Such professionals will be provided an option to undergo a bridge course to attain eligibility for regular registration.
The registration and payment of fee will be processed through an online portal, supporting a more streamlined registration process and greater transparency in the allied and healthcare workforce.
Taken together, these measures strengthen standards in allied and healthcare education and professional practice through institutional assessment, competency-based training and a transparent system of professional registration and verification.
The framework seeks to support quality education and training and enable patients and service users to verify the registration of allied and healthcare professionals.
Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.
