The University Grants Commission (UGC) has announced that general Master of Physiotherapy (MPT) and Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) programs will be discontinued starting from the 2026–27 academic session.
Moving forward, universities across India must explicitly state the field of specialisation on degree certificates, eliminating generalized postgraduate qualifications in these streams.
The directive, issued through a gazette notification, constitutes the fifth amendment to the UGC’s Specification of Degrees (2014). This reform was enacted in consultation with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP).
The policy aims to enforce a uniform “One Nation, One Curriculum” framework to standardise qualification titles, duration, and eligibility criteria nationwide.
UGC Revises Allied Healthcare Degrees: Mandatory From 2026-27
The regulatory shift establishes strict guardrails for future allied health professionals:
- Timeline for Enforcement: The mandate is strictly applicable to students securing admission in or after the 2026–27 academic year.
- Protection for Existing Batches: Students enrolled in ongoing general MPT or MOT courses prior to the 2026–27 session are completely exempt and will graduate under the older system.
- Course Structure: Both specialized streams will continue as two-year master’s programs, maintaining their existing minimum entry requirements.
The New Specialisation Breakdown
Under the new notification, universities can only grant postgraduate degrees tailored to specific clinical tracks:
| Master of Physiotherapy (MPT) Streams | Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) Streams |
| • Musculoskeletal Sciences• Neurosciences• Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Sciences• Sports Sciences• Paediatrics and Neonatal Sciences• Obstetrics and Gynaecology Sciences• Oncology Sciences• Community Rehabilitation Sciences | • Musculoskeletal Sciences• Neurosciences• Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Sciences• Sports Sciences• Paediatrics and Neonatology• Mental Health• Rehabilitation• Geriatrics• Hand and Oncological Sciences |
Expanded Allied Health Degrees Introduced
The standardisation framework also formally restructures and adds multiple other undergraduate and postgraduate degrees under the NCAHP umbrella:
- Medical Laboratory Sciences: Introduction of Bachelor (BMLS) and Master (MMLS) of Medical Laboratory Science, with PG pathways in Medical Microbiology, Hematology, and Histology.
- Emergency & Trauma Care: Formalisation of the Bachelor of Emergency Medical Technologist (Paramedics) and Master of Advanced Care Paramedics (MACP).
- Information Management: Launch of B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Health Information Management (HIM) to address digital healthcare administration needs.
UGC has revised the allied healthcare programme guidelines for the 2026-27 session.
Yes, the General MPT and General MOT programmes are discontinued under the revised framework.
The revised provisions apply from the 2026-27 academic session.
