RCI Announces Comprehensive Reforms in Rehabilitation Education and Governance

• The Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI) has unveiled a major reform package to modernize rehabilitation education, improve transparency, and strengthen professional governance. The initiatives align with the Government of India’s Jan Vishwas and Ease of Doing Business frameworks, emphasizing digitalisation, inclusivity, and self-reliance.

Fee Waiver and Digital Reforms

• RCI has made registration, renewal, and qualification addition in the Central Rehabilitation Register (CRR) completely free. Registration validity has been extended from five to seven years , with automatic renewal for professionals earning 100 or more Continuing Rehabilitation Education (CRE) points. A new digital dashboard enables free online corrections, and institutions no longer need to pay CRE processing fees.

Centers of Excellence (CoEs)

• A total of 144 institutions , including National Institutes, Composite Regional Centres, and Central and State Universities, have been designated as Centers of Excellence . These CoEs will enjoy seven-year approval tenure with automatic renewal and full autonomy to conduct CRE programmes at state, national, and international levels.

Simplified and Transparent Regulations

• RCI has launched a common NOC system and introduced video-based inspections to ensure transparency. Institutions with minor deficiencies will receive Improvement Notices before re-inspection, allowing time for corrective action.

Academic and Examination Reforms

• Examiners, paper setters, and moderators will now be selected exclusively from CoEs. Supplementary exams will be conducted within 75 days of result declaration to reduce academic loss. RCI will also promote regional language content , books by Indian authors, and indigenous diagnostic tools in curricula.

Exam-Oriented Facts

• CRR registration and renewal now free of charge.

• CRR validity extended to seven years.

• 144 institutions declared as CoEs.

• Common NOC and video-based inspections introduced.

• Supplementary exams within 75 days of results.