New Delhi, July 20: The proposed National Pharmacy Commission Bill 2026 is set to bring sweeping reforms to pharmacy education and professional licensing in India. The legislation will replace the Pharmacy Act, 1948, introducing a modern and accountability driven framework for pharmacy education and practice.
The proposed reforms are significant for more than 35,000 pharmacy students in Telangana and over five lakh students across the country. The Bill is expected to pave the way for the Pharmacy Education and Practice Regulations, 2026.
National Pharmacy Commission Bill 2026 Brings Major Reforms
A key provision of the Bill is the introduction of the National Exit Test (NEXT). All Diploma in Pharmacy (D Pharm) and Bachelor of Pharmacy (B Pharm) graduates must clear the examination before obtaining a licence to practice.
The NEXT examination will also be mandatory for inclusion in the State Pharmacy Register and the proposed National Register of Pharmacy Professionals. In addition, it is expected to serve as a common merit based entrance examination for admission to M Pharm and other postgraduate programmes.
The proposed regulations also require Indian students who complete pharmacy education abroad to qualify in the NEXT examination before becoming eligible to practice in India.
The Bill proposes replacing the Pharmacy Council of India with the National Pharmacy Commission. The new body will function through four specialised boards responsible for education, institutional assessment, ethics and professional registration.
Another major reform is the introduction of continuous institutional accreditation. Instead of one time approvals, pharmacy colleges will undergo regular inspections and public performance ratings to ensure quality standards.
The new framework also seeks to standardise faculty qualifications, infrastructure and curriculum across institutions. It places greater emphasis on competency based education, clinical pharmacy, hospital training and emergency preparedness.
Experts have also recommended integrating emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, robotics and data analytics into the pharmacy curriculum to prepare students for future healthcare requirements.
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