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CHANDIGARH: Nearly 90 colleges and around 10,000 allied healthcare students in Punjab face uncertainty over admissions for the 2026–27 academic session as I.K. Gujral Punjab Technical University (IKGPTU) has yet to issue affiliation orders, prompting the Punjab Unaided Colleges Association (PUCA) to seek state government intervention and a one-month extension of the admission deadline.
With the deadline for admissions set for October 31, the delay has raised concerns that thousands of students could lose an academic year if the pending affiliations are not resolved in time.
Dr. Anshu Kataria, president of PUCA, has written to the Punjab Health Minister, urging the state government to take up the matter with the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP) and seek an extension to facilitate admissions across the affected institutions.
Kataria has urged the NCAHP to consider Punjab as a special case and grant a one-month extension, arguing that the additional time would help ensure that nearly 10,000 prospective students are not disadvantaged by administrative delays.
Regulatory Clearances and Clarifications Behind Delay
The affiliation process was initially delayed as IKGPTU awaited a notification from the University Grants Commission (UGC) endorsing NCAHP courses. The notification was issued on August 27, 2026, under Notification No. F.21-12/2026(CPP-II), bearing UIN: 3/2026.
Following the notification, the university sought clarification from the NCAHP regarding the offering of two programmes: Bachelor of Science in Cardiac Care Technology (B.Sc. CCT) and Bachelor of Science in Operation Theatre Technology (B.Sc. OTT).
The university subsequently had to seek further clarification from the commission, resulting in additional delays in the affiliation process.
As a result, affiliation orders for approximately 80–90 allied healthcare colleges remain pending, leaving institutions and prospective students uncertain about the admission process for the current academic session.
PUCA Seeks Government Intervention
With the October 31 admission deadline approaching, PUCA has called for urgent intervention by the Punjab government to resolve the matter with the NCAHP.
The association has sought a one-month extension to provide colleges with sufficient time to complete admissions once the pending affiliations are issued.
PUCA's request centres on preventing students from losing an academic year because of delays in the affiliation process and the clarifications sought between the university and the regulatory commission.
The proposed extension would provide additional time for the affected colleges to proceed with admissions for the 2026–27 academic session, subject to the necessary affiliations and regulatory requirements.
With the deadline only days away, the association has urged the state government to take up the matter with the NCAHP and secure the additional time needed to safeguard the academic interests of nearly 10,000 allied healthcare students in Punjab.
