UGC Approves 33 New Allied Healthcare Courses; BPT Now 5 Years
The University Grants Commission (UGC) has approved 33 new allied and healthcare degree programmes on the recommendation of the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP). The decision aims to standardise nomenclature, duration and academic structure across universities from the 2026-27 academic session.
Key changes include an increase in the duration of three major undergraduate courses:
Course | Previous Duration | New Duration |
|---|---|---|
Bachelor of Physiotherapy (BPT) | 4.5 years | 5 years |
Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (BOT) | 4.5 years | 5 years |
Bachelor of Optometry (B.Optom) | 4 years | 5 years |
Universities offering Master of Physiotherapy (MPT) and Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) have also been directed to restructure their programmes as per the updated nomenclature.
The newly added courses cover disciplines such as allied healthcare, paramedical sciences, pharmacy, nursing, Ayurveda, Unani and Homoeopathy. The move is expected to bring uniformity in curriculum and improve the quality of healthcare education in India.
Students and institutions are advised to check the official UGC notification for the complete list of new degree titles and implementation guidelines.
