3860 - REGULATION OF PSYCHOLOGICAL PROFESSIONAL SERVICES IN INDIA

Session: 3857 - THE DEVELOPING LANDSCAPE OF PSYCHOLOGICAL REGULATION AND ACCREDITATION IN THE ASIA PACIFIC.
AUTHORS:
Biswas Saswata ("Tribhuvan" Sahkari University ~ Anand ~ India)
Abstract text:
The regulation of psychological professional services in India is in an early stage of development. The Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI) Act 1992 was passed to regulate health services-related professions, including clinical psychologists with an MPhil or PhD in Clinical Psychology. The National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP) Bill 2020 was passed by the Indian Parliament in 2021. The Council deviated from the accepted practices of including independent professional bodies to jointly develop the regulatory standards for the profession. Psychology was clubbed with 14 professions listed under behavioural health sciences. The latest Draft Registration of Allied and Healthcare Professionals Regulations 2025 allows psychologists to practice as counsellors and behavioural analysts. This paper reviews the existing landscape of regulation and accreditation of psychological professional services in India. It provides a road map that can be used to traverse through the existing and proposed regulatory structures.