**Executive Summary**
The National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP) has released a new competency-based curriculum for the Diploma in Medical Laboratory Technology (DMLT), effective from July 1, 2026. This initiative supports the Union Budget 2026–27 goal of creating one lakh additional healthcare professionals over five years. Institutions are advised to implement the curriculum in Academic Year 2026–27, with mandatory adoption required by Academic Year 2027–28.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Implementation Timelines**
* Voluntary implementation for DMLT programs begins in Academic Year 2026–27.
* Mandatory adoption of the new curriculum is required for all institutions by Academic Year 2027–28.
* Bachelor (B.MLS) and Master (M.MLS) programs, released in October 2025, also follow the 2026–27 implementation schedule.
* **Curriculum Structure and Objective**
* Shifts from knowledge-based teaching to a competency-based framework focusing on Knowledge, Skills, Values, and Attitudes (KSVA).
* Designed as a two-year program for students who have completed Class XII in the Science stream (Physics, Chemistry, and Biology).
* Covers responsibilities across pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical laboratory testing phases.
* Emphasizes quality assurance, patient safety, and ethical professional practices.
* **Broad Regulatory Scope**
* The NCAHP has notified 16 competency-based curricula across various disciplines, including Physiotherapy, Optometry, Radiology, and Occupational Therapy.
* All 16 curricula are subject to mandatory implementation starting in Academic Year 2026–27.
* The framework aims to align Indian allied healthcare education with international standards and national priorities.
* **Institutional Support**
* The NCAHP has conducted eight national-level webinars to raise awareness and prepare stakeholders for the transition.
* The Commission provides ongoing guidance and resolution for implementation-related issues to ensure a smooth transition for universities and colleges.
**Impact Analysis**
**Educational Institutions (Universities and Colleges)**
**Impact**
Institutions must transition from conventional teaching methods to the new competency-based framework. They are now subject to mandatory standardization across 16 different allied healthcare disciplines.
**Action Required**
Update DMLT, B.MLS, and M.MLS course structures to align with the new KSVA framework by the 2026–27 advisory or 2027–28 mandatory deadlines.
**Prospective Students**
**Impact**
Students will receive standardized training designed to improve job readiness and global professional mobility.
**Action Required**
Candidates must ensure they meet the Class XII Science stream prerequisites and enroll in programs that adhere to the new NCAHP standards.
**Allied and Healthcare Professionals (Medical Laboratory Associates)**
**Impact**
Future professionals will be trained to perform specific responsibilities across all laboratory testing phases with enhanced clinical exposure.
**Action Required**
Must adhere to the new quality assurance protocols, patient safety standards, and ethical practices established in the competency-based curricula.
**National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP)**
**Impact**
As the statutory regulatory body, the Commission is responsible for modernizing the sector and maintaining education standards.
**Action Required**
Continue engaging with stakeholders and providing guidance to resolve implementation issues across institutions nationwide.
Key Entities Referenced
National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP): A statutory body under the MoHFW established to regulate and maintain standards of education and professional services in the allied and healthcare sector.
Competency-Based Curriculum for the Diploma in Medical Laboratory Technology (DMLT): A new educational framework emphasizing knowledge, skills, values, and attitudes (KSVA) to produce competent medical laboratory associates.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW): The primary union ministry guiding reforms to modernize allied and healthcare education aligned with national and international standards.
Union Budget 2026–27: The national policy document providing the vision to generate one lakh additional Allied and Healthcare Professionals over a five-year period.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
NCAHP Releases Competency-Based
Curriculum for Diploma in Medical Laboratory
Technology to Strengthen Allied Healthcare
Education
Curriculum to be implemented from Academic Year 2026–27
and adopted mandatorily from 2027–28
Initiative aligned with Union Budget 2026–27 vision to create
one lakh additional Allied and Healthcare Professionals over
the next five years
प्रव तथ: 17 JUL 2026 5:32PM by PIB Delhi
In a significant step towards strengthening the quality, uniformity and global competitiveness of allied and
healthcare education in the country, the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions
(NCAHP), under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), has released the Competency-
Based Curriculum for the Diploma in Medical Laboratory Technology (DMLT) vide notification dated 1st
July 2026.
All institutions currently offering, or intending to offer, the DMLT programme have been advised to
implement the curriculum from the Academic Year 2026–27, with mandatory adoption from the Academic
Year 2027–28.
The two-year Diploma in Medical Laboratory Technology (DMLT) programme is designed for students
who have completed Class XII in the Science stream with Physics, Chemistry and Biology from a
recognized board. The curriculum marks a paradigm shift from conventional knowledge-based teaching to
a competency-based education framework, emphasizing the development of Knowledge, Skills, Values
and Attitudes (KSVA) required for delivering high-quality diagnostic laboratory services.
The curriculum has been structured to produce competent Medical Laboratory Associates capable of
performing responsibilities across the pre-analytical, analytical and post-analytical phases of laboratory
testing while ensuring adherence to quality assurance protocols, patient safety standards and ethical
professional practices.
The Commission had earlier released the Competency-Based Curricula for Bachelor of Medical
Laboratory Science (B.MLS) and Master of Medical Laboratory Science (M.MLS) on 15th October 2025,
which are also scheduled for implementation from the Academic Year 2026–27.
In addition, the NCAHP has notified 16 competency-based curricula across various allied and healthcare
disciplines, all of which are to be implemented mandatorily from the Academic Year 2026–27. These
include:Applied Psychology and Behavioral Health
Physiotherapy
Optometry
Nutrition and Dietetics
Medical Radiology and Imaging Technology
Radiotherapy
Dialysis Therapy Technology and Dialysis Therapy
Health Information Management
Anesthesia and Operation Theatre Technology
Physician Associates
Occupational Therapy
Emergency Medical Technologist (Paramedic), Burn Care Technologist and Advance Care
Paramedic
Respiratory Technology
Medical and Psychiatric Social Work
Medical Physics
Nuclear Medicine Technology
The National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP) is a statutory body established
under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to regulate and maintain standards of education and
professional services in the allied and healthcare sector across the country.
The initiative is aligned with the Union Budget 2026–27 announcement to generate one lakh additional
Allied and Healthcare Professionals (AHPs) over the next five years. Guided by the Ministry of Health
and Family Welfare, the Commission is undertaking comprehensive reforms to modernize allied and
healthcare education through competency-based curricula that are aligned with national healthcare
priorities as well as international standards.
The competency-based curricula are expected to produce skilled professionals with enhanced clinical
exposure, standardized competencies and practical training, making them job-ready to meet the growing
demand for qualified allied healthcare professionals within the country while also improving their
prospects for global employment and professional mobility.
To facilitate smooth implementation and support institutions during the transition, the Commission has
been actively engaging with universities, colleges and other stakeholders across the country. As part of this
effort, eight national-level webinars have recently been conducted to create awareness regarding the
implementation of the new curricula. The webinars witnessed enthusiastic participation from educational
institutions and universities nationwide, reflecting broad acceptance of the competency-based framework
and preparedness for its implementation. The Commission continues to provide guidance and resolve
implementation-related issues to ensure effective adoption of the new curricula across institutions.
***
SR
HFW/ NCAHP releases Competency-Based Curriculum /17 July 2026/2
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