The National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP) under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has released new regulations to standardise education, institutional quality and professional registration in the allied and healthcare sector. The rules establish autonomous boards to assess institutions, introduce a competency-based diploma curriculum in medical radiology and imaging, and create a digital registration system with unique identification numbers for all professionals in this field.
Key facts
- Three sets of regulations notified under the NCAHP Act, 2021
- Autonomous Boards to have 10 to 20 members including a President
- Central Assessment Committee (CAC) to comprise 10 to 30 members for states without functional State Councils
- Diploma in Medical Radiology and Imaging Technology (D.MRIT) is a two-year programme
- D.MRIT includes six-month clinical internship in radiology and imaging
- D.MRIT mandatory from academic year 2027–28, voluntary from 2026–27
- Eligibility for D.MRIT: Class 12 completion in Science stream with Physics, Chemistry and Biology (PCB)
- Registration valid for five years with renewal based on Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
- Unique Identification (UID) numbers and QR-coded certificates issued to all registered professionals
- Registration Regulations published in Gazette of India on 15 September 2026
- 20 competency-based curricula released so far by NCAHP
Autonomous Boards and Central Assessment Committee
The Regulations establish Autonomous Boards within State Allied and Healthcare Councils to oversee institutional standards. Each board will have 10 to 20 members with representation from recognised allied and healthcare professional categories. These boards will split into three divisions: Undergraduate and Postgraduate Boards to implement standards and facilitate faculty development; an Assessment and Rating Board to evaluate applications for recognition, conduct institutional inspections, and publicly rate institutions; and an Ethics and Registration Board to verify professional documents and maintain conduct standards.
For states where a State Council does not yet function, the Regulations create a Central Assessment Committee (CAC) supervised by NCAHP. The CAC will perform the same functions as Autonomous Boards and will comprise 10 to 30 members with representation across professional categories and geographic coverage. Both structures have prescribed grounds for removal of members, including conflict of interest or breach of code, with due process protections.
Competency-based radiology diploma
NCAHP has notified a competency-based curriculum for the Diploma in Medical Radiology and Imaging Technology (D.MRIT) on 30 September 2026, developed under the One Nation One Curriculum framework. The two-year programme is designed for students who have completed Class 12 in the Science stream with Physics, Chemistry and Biology from a recognised board.
The curriculum emphasises practical, hands-on learning. A six-month clinical internship is a mandatory component, giving students structured exposure in radiology and imaging departments at Primary Health Centres, hospitals and diagnostic centres. Students will develop skills in radiation safety, patient care and operation of imaging equipment such as X-rays, CT scanners, sonography and fluoroscopy machines.
All institutions offering this diploma must adopt the new curriculum from the academic year 2027–28. Those wishing to implement it earlier may do so from 2026–27. This diploma sits alongside the Bachelor of Medical Radiology and Imaging Technology (B.MRIT) and Master of Medical Radiology and Imaging Technology (M.MRIT) programmes released in April 2025, creating a structured pathway in the discipline.
Digital registration and professional verification
The Registration of Allied and Healthcare Professionals Regulations, 2026 create a unified online registration system for all allied and healthcare professionals. Every registered professional receives a Unique Identification (UID) number and a digital certificate with a secure QR code, enabling instant verification of credentials.
Registration is valid for five years and requires renewal by completing approved Continuing Professional Development (CPD) courses available online and offline. The registration process is conducted entirely through an online portal, with fees collected digitally for greater transparency.
The Central Register and all State Registers are publicly accessible through the websites of NCAHP and State Councils, displaying the prescribed details of registered professionals. This allows patients and employers to verify whether a professional is registered and eligible to practise.
The system also covers interim registration for students completing internships or clinical training, which is initiated free of charge by their recognised institution. Indian citizens with foreign qualifications can apply after the Commission recognises their qualification or after credential equivalency evaluation. Foreign professionals may obtain temporary registration for specific purposes such as postgraduate education, clinical research, or expert visits.
What this means for you
Students pursuing medical radiology and imaging technology now have a clear, nationally standardised two-year diploma pathway with strong emphasis on practical skills. Employers can verify the registration status of any allied healthcare professional instantly through a public portal. Allied healthcare professionals must now register digitally to practise; registration remains valid for five years but requires proof of continuing professional development to renew. Those currently practising without recognised qualifications may be offered a bridge course to gain eligibility for formal registration.
What happens next
Institutions offering the D.MRIT diploma must implement the new curriculum by the academic year 2027–28. The NCAHP will continue developing competency-based curricula for other allied healthcare professions and work with states to establish functional State Councils where they do not exist.