From the 2026–27 academic year, qualifying the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET UG) will become mandatory for admission to undergraduate allied and healthcare courses across India. The move aims to standardise entry level competence and bring uniformity to admissions in the rapidly expanding allied health education sector.
New Delhi - The National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP) has announced that the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET-UG) will be a mandatory eligibility criterion for admission to a wide range of undergraduate allied and healthcare programmes from the 2026-27 academic year.
In an official communication dated November 19, 2025, addressed to the Department of Higher Education, state education authorities, and school-boards, NCAHP directed that students aspiring to join allied and healthcare courses after class 12 must appear for NEET, in addition to satisfying other course-specific criteria.
As of December 2025, the commission has notified 13 undergraduate and postgraduate curricula under its regulatory framework for allied and healthcare professions. NCAHP has notified 13 curricula so far, and admissions under these curricula will follow the new NEET-based eligibility guidelines starting 2026–27.
According to the NCAHP, the decision to mandate NEET is intended to improve academic standards, ensure uniform eligibility criteria, and establish a transparent, merit based admission process across institutions offering allied and healthcare education.
The policy is rooted in concerns over wide variation in admission practices, curriculum quality, and assessment standards across states and private institutions. By aligning allied health admissions with a national level entrance examination, regulators aim to ensure that students possess foundational knowledge in biology and related sciences before entering professional healthcare training. ¹
The authority for regulating allied and healthcare education stems from the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions Act, 2021. The Act empowers the NCAHP to frame policies, set minimum education standards, and regulate admissions to allied and healthcare courses at the national level. ²
Under this legislation, the Commission is tasked with ensuring uniformity in education and practice standards across professions such as physiotherapy, optometry, medical laboratory sciences, radiology, nutrition, and other allied health disciplines.
According to NCAHP’s notified curricula and coverage by education-news outlets, core undergraduate programmes now requiring NEET qualification include:
Bachelor of Physiotherapy (BPT)
B.Sc. Optometry
B.Sc. Nutrition and Dietetics
B.Sc. Dialysis Technology (Dialysis Therapy)
B.Sc. Medical Laboratory and Life Sciences / Medical Laboratory Technology
B.Sc. Medical Radiology, Imaging and Therapeutic Technology (Radiology & Imaging)
Additional therapy- and technology-oriented programmes under the Allied & Healthcare umbrella include:
Operation theatre technology
Anesthesia/OT technology
Emergency care paramedics
Health information management
Physician associate programmes
Other specialised technology-based courses
Education-news sources note that the list above may expand as more curricula get notified by NCAHP.
The decision to mandate NEET aims at standardising admissions across the allied and healthcare education sector. NCAHP and allied-sector stakeholders expect this to enhance transparency and ensure that entrants have a solid foundation in sciences.
Under the new framework, prior modes of direct admission, merit-based entry or various institution-level/state-level entrance tests for many of these courses will be discontinued.
NCAHP advises the relevant educational boards and institutions to inform students early — so that those completing class 12 or equivalent exams may plan to take NEET in time for allied and healthcare admissions beginning 2026–27.
Appearing for NEET-UG will now be mandatory for admission into the allied & healthcare courses covered under notified NCAHP curricula. However, fulfilling NEET alone may not be enough; students must also meet other academic eligibility criteria, such as completing class 12 with required science subjects (Physics, Chemistry and Biology) as specified for each course.
The requirement applies only to allied and healthcare courses whose curricula have been officially notified. More courses may be added in future as NCAHP expands its regulated programmes.
Institutions and states may still apply additional admission norms (such as counselling, reservation, domicile policies). NEET has become the national-level entry gateway for the majority of allied and healthcare undergraduate programmes under NCAHP regulation.
For students, the policy represents a shift toward a common national entry pathway similar to medical and dental education. Aspirants planning careers in allied healthcare will need to prepare for NEET alongside traditional eligibility requirements.
For institutions, the mandate is expected to bring consistency in student intake quality and reduce disparities in admission standards across states and private colleges.
The decision by NCAHP to make NEET-UG a mandatory eligibility criterion for admission to a broad set of allied and healthcare courses from 2026–27 represents a major shift in the admission landscape for paramedical and allied health education in India. This move aims to bring greater uniformity, regulate standards, and ensure quality of candidates entering supportive roles in the healthcare system. Aspiring students should begin planning their Class 12 subject choices and NEET preparation timelines accordingly.
Is NEET mandatory for all allied and healthcare courses from 2026?
From the 2026–27 academic year, NEET-UG will be mandatory for admission to undergraduate allied and healthcare courses whose curricula are officially notified by NCAHP. Courses not yet notified under the NCAHP framework may continue to follow existing admission processes until included.
Will qualifying NEET alone guarantee admission to allied health courses?
No. Qualifying NEET is a mandatory eligibility requirement but does not guarantee admission. Students must also meet course-specific academic criteria, including Class 12 subject requirements and minimum marks, and participate in counselling or institutional admission processes.
Does this change affect paramedical courses as well?
The requirement applies specifically to allied and healthcare courses regulated by NCAHP. Some paramedical or certificate level programmes may remain outside this framework unless their curricula are formally notified in the future.
Will states or colleges still have their own admission rules?
Yes. While NEET becomes the national eligibility gateway, states and institutions may still apply additional rules such as counselling procedures, reservation policies, domicile requirements, and institutional cut-offs.
Why has NCAHP introduced NEET for allied health admissions?
The move aims to standardise admission practices, improve academic quality, and ensure that students entering allied health professions have a strong foundation in basic sciences, similar to other healthcare streams.
National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions. Guidelines for Admission to Undergraduate Allied and Healthcare Courses. Accessed December 2025. https://ncahp.gov.in
Government of India. The National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions Act, 2021. Ministry of Law and Justice. https://legislative.gov.in/sites/default/files/A2021-28.pdf
(Rh/MSM)