National Pharmacy Commission Bill 2026 to overhaul pharmacy education, licensing in India

The proposed National Pharmacy Commission Bill, 2026, aims to overhaul pharmacy education by introducing a mandatory National Exit Test, continuous accreditation of colleges and competency-based learning, while replacing the Pharmacy Council of India with a new regulatory commission.

Hyderabad: For the more than 35,000 active pharmacy students in Telangana and over five lakh across the country, the coming few months are crucial, as the pharmacy education sector is set for a major transformation, shifting towards a more modern, globally aligned, and accountability-driven professional framework. In the coming months, the nearly eight-decade-old Pharmacy Act of 1948 is set to be replaced by National Pharmacy Commission (NPC) Bill, 2026, which promises to implement the Pharmacy Education and Practice Regulations, 2026.

Billed as a comprehensive legislative proposal, the new Regulations are expected to change how future pharmacists in the country will be trained, licensed, and integrated into the healthcare system.

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The most significant change for students is the proposed National Exit Test (NEXT) that has to be mandatorily cleared by D. Pharm and B. Pharm graduates before they obtain a license to practice.

Just like MBBS, the NEXT test is also being designed as a potential single-window gateway for entry into M. Pharm and other PG programs. To ensure uniform talent and competence across the pharmacy workforce, the new regulations will also extend to pharmacy graduates with foreign degrees to clear the same NEXT exam before practicing in India.

Another major change the new Bill will introduce is moving away from the practice of providing ‘one-time approval’ to pharmacy colleges. The new Pharmacy Regulation introduces a continuous, transparent system of institutional accreditation and public ratings.

For pharmacy students, this will ensure standardized quality, as the Pharmacy Commission aims to unify faculty qualifications, infrastructure, and curriculum standards. The pharmacy education will also focus on clinical pharmacy, hospital exposure, and emergency preparedness.

The Bill also replaces the Pharmacy Council of India with the new National Pharmacy Commission, operating through four specialized boards that handle education, institutional rating, ethics, and registration.

What new Pharmacy Regulations will bring?

• National Exit Test that all D. Pharm and B. Pharm graduates must clear to obtain a license to practice pharmacy.
• Clearing NEXT will be mandatory to enter name into State Pharmacy Register and new National Register of Pharmacy Professionals.
• NEXT is likely to serve as a common merit-based entrance exam for admission into PG programs.
• Every year, Pharmacy colleges will have to undergo inspections for eligibility
• Indian students who pursued pharmacy in foreign countries must also clear NEXT exam
• Pharmacy curriculum to shift towards competency-based education
• More emphasis on clinical pharmacy, hospital exposure, and emergency preparedness.
• Pharmacy Council to be replaced by National Pharmacy Commission
• Experts advocating integration of industry standards like AI, robotics and data analysis into the new curriculum