The Karnataka State Allied and Healthcare Council has announced that admission to undergraduate courses in Bachelor of Physiotherapy (BPT) and Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (BOT) will now require NEET scores starting from the 2026-27 academic session.
Official Announcement and Approval
U. T. Iftikhar Ali Fareed, Chairman of the Karnataka State Allied and Healthcare Council, confirmed the decision in a press release. The change follows ratification from the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP) to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the National Testing Agency (NTA).
Implementation Guidelines
The NCAHP has finalized category-wise admission criteria for allied and healthcare undergraduate programmes. The University Grants Commission has been informed to include NEET 2026 scores for admissions to UG allied science courses. Accordingly, all public, private, and deemed-to-be universities in Karnataka have been issued an advisory to follow the revised admission process based on NEET scores.
Impact on Students
From the 2026-27 session onward, candidates seeking admission to BPT and BOT courses in Karnataka must qualify in the NEET exam. This move aligns admissions to allied and healthcare courses with the standardised national-level examination pattern, ensuring uniform eligibility across institutions. Candidates preparing for BPT and BOT courses are advised to plan their NEET 2026 preparation accordingly to secure eligibility for these undergraduate programmes.