MANUU BVoc, MVoc: What’s the NCAHP registration row and why are 600 allied health science students protesting?

"If our courses are not recognised, we will not be able to obtain registration certificates, which are necessary for professional practice. Our degrees could become useless," said Quazi Zulqarnain, a fourth-year Bachelor of Vocation (BVoc) student of Medical Imaging Technology (MIT) at Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU), Hyderabad.

Students pursuing Bachelor of Vocation (BVoc) and Master of Vocation (MVoc) programmes in allied and healthcare sciences at MANUU have been protesting since October 21, demanding inclusion of their courses in the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions’s (NCAHP) list of recognised qualifications. They fear their exclusion could affect professional registration, employment, government jobs and higher education.

Also read AIIMS Delhi, JIPMER, others: 1 in 7 resident doctors at top medical colleges quit midway; UDF urges probe

These courses come under the Department of Vocational Studies and Skill Development, which operates under the School of Sciences at MANUU. Around 600 students, including those from ongoing batches and graduates, are associated with the protest, according to the students. The agitation is being held outside the university's administrative building, with students boycotting classes.

Today is the 17th day of their protest.

They are demanding either direct recognition of their degrees under NCAHP or a change in their nomenclature from BVoc and MVoc to BSc and MSc, respectively.

The protest comes after the publication of the Registration of Allied and Healthcare Professionals Regulations, 2026, which make registration mandatory for practising in recognised allied healthcare professions. Students say their courses were introduced under the UGC framework, but their degree titles are missing from the NCAHP's list of recognised qualifications .

Students have also written to the Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, seeking intervention to resolve the issue.

MANUU: Why are BVoc, MVoc students protesting?

MANUU's Department of Vocational Studies and Skill Development offers BVoc programmes in Medical Laboratory Technology (MLT), Medical Imaging Technology (MIT) and Emergency and Trauma Care Technology (ETT). It also offers MVoc programmes in MLT and MIT.

The University Grants Commission (UGC)  introduced the guidelines for the BVoc degree programme in December 2012, and formally launched the scheme in February 2014, allowing selected universities and colleges to offer it. The MVoc degree was specified by UGC in July 2015.

MANUU introduced its initial BVoc programmes in MLT and MIT in 2019, before the NCAHP was constituted in 2021.

Their concerns began after NCAHP published draft regulations last year in September, listing recognised allied and healthcare qualifications. Students said the list included degrees such as BSc Medical Laboratory Technology and BSc Medical Radiology and Imaging Technology, but excluded their BVoc and MVoc courses.

They said they submitted representations to NCAHP and the UGC. However, their degree names were not included in the final regulations.

"We have been following up on this issue since the draft regulations were released last year. Students and the university submitted representations explaining our course structure, syllabus and eligibility criteria. Despite this, our degree nomenclatures were not included in the final regulations," Quazi said, one of the protesting students.

Qazi said the courses carry 180 credit points and include training and internships at hospitals such as Omega and Medicover.

Also read MUHS Nashik plans 865 new colleges: 51 for MBBS, most in small towns; big push for allied health sciences

Allied Health Sciences: NCAHP regulations

The NCAHP notified the Registration of Allied and Healthcare Professionals Regulations, 2026, in August.

As per the regulation, a person can practise a recognised allied and healthcare profession only after obtaining registration under the prescribed procedure. It states that applicants must hold a recognised primary qualification listed in Schedule I to be eligible for registration.

The schedule lists qualifications such as Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Sciences (BMLS) and Master of Medical Laboratory Sciences (MMLS) for relevant laboratory-related professions. It also includes BSc qualifications in Emergency and Trauma Care Technology and various medical imaging and radiology programmes. However, it does not list BVoc and MVoc degrees.

Students fear that this could create difficulties in obtaining professional registration and restrict their ability to work in hospitals.

Also read NCAHP notifies policy for state bodies to regulate allied health science courses, colleges, AHP registration

NCAHP Act: MANUU student’s RTI application

An RTI application filed on September 16, 2026, sought clarification on whether five BVoc and MVoc offered by MANUU were eligible for registration with the NCAHP central or state registers.

The applicant, Anzoom, a student of MANUU sought separate yes or no answers for all the five courses. He also sought the rules for refusing registration and copies of related orders, committee decisions and assessment reports.

In its response on October 6, the Central Public Information Officer (CPIO) said the RTI Act required the commission to provide information available on record, not interpretations or clarifications. It directed the applicant to the NCAHP Act, 2021, and the registration regulations on its website.

The applicant filed a first appeal the same day, alleging that the response was incomplete and misleading. However, in an order dated October 26, NCAHP Secretary and First Appellate Authority Umesh Balonda disposed of the CPIO's response. The order said the commission had notified the Registration of Allied and Healthcare Professionals Regulations, 2026. “Related clarifications regarding BVoc qualifications already uploaded on the website.”

However, the order did not provide separate eligibility decisions for the five qualifications listed in the RTI application or the requested assessment reports and committee decisions.

Anzar, a second-year MVoc student in Medical Laboratory Technology at MANUU, said students were not satisfied with the RTI response as it did not provide the information they had sought.

Also read In a first for NEET UG Counselling, costliest medical colleges slash MBBS fees up to 40% as seats go vacant

MANUU BVoc, MVoc: Jobs, higher education

Students are particularly concerned about government recruitment and admission to higher education programmes, where recognised qualifications and professional registration may be required.

Anzar said, "Those who completed their bachelor's degrees have received registration from the Telangana Paramedical Board. But we have not received registration for our master's courses. Even those who are working now could face difficulties in the future if their qualifications are not recognised under the national regulations," he said.

He said that graduates could face difficulties applying for jobs in other states, as state paramedical boards may not recognise their qualifications.

Zulkarnain also said some candidates with BVoc qualifications had faced difficulties during recruitment processes, with their applications not being accepted for certain jobs and examinations.

In a letter dated October 23 addressed to the union health minister, students sought urgent intervention to address their concerns.

The letter sought four demands – direct recognition of eligible BVoc and MVoc qualifications in the relevant allied healthcare disciplines; an alternative mechanism to change BVoc degrees to BSc and MVoc degrees to MSc; transitional provisions to protect existing students and graduates; and a time-bound decision by the concerned authorities.

“We supported the standardisation of allied healthcare education. However, eligible students of UGC-recognised programmes must not be left uncertain about their professional future because of differences in degree nomenclature,” the students said in the letter.

Also read NEET PG Counselling: At private medical colleges, deemed-university tag brings up to 1,471% fee hike

MANUU forms committee

S. Maqbool Ahmed the Head of the Department of Vocational Studies and Skill Development at MANUU refused to speak.

Anzar said the university and students had submitted around 29 representations to the two bodies, explaining how the courses meet the prescribed academic requirements.

According to Quazi, the university had earlier assured students that it would take up the matter with the commission. However, the proposed provisional registration did not address their concerns. He said the university had been giving assurances for over a year, while students' careers remained at stake.

He said provisional registration could be temporary and might involve additional examinations or conditions. Students, who have completed the course and practical training, are seeking permanent registration.

The vice chancellor announced the formation of a committee on October 26 to examine the issue and work towards a resolution. However, students alleged that the committee had not provided a clear roadmap or timeline for resolving the matter.

Also read No lab, little funds, full-time job: Midnight equations land Tumkur University prof on top 2% scientists list

Pressure from MANUU admin, allege students

Protesting students alleged that the university administration was pressuring them to end their agitation and had warned of possible action if the protest continued.

They said the university had also sent letters to the families of students boycotting classes as part of the protest. "We have not come directly to the protest. We have been following up with the university and the authorities since the draft regulations were released last year. We are sitting here because we are worried about our future," Quazi said.

The students said they would continue their indefinite protest until the university and regulatory authorities provided a concrete solution.