Methods and apparatuses are provided for ensuring, for a unified TCI framework, a MAC CE format for associating code-point of a TCI field, and a TCI state for DL/UL beam indications. A UE can receive a MAC CE for associating at least one TCI state with at least one code-point of a TCI field in a DCI, wherein the MAC CE comprises at least a first octet including a first TCI state ID field associated with a first TCI state and a first field indicating DL or UL for the first TCI state, a second octet including a second TCI state ID field associated with a second TCI state and a second field indicating DL or UL for the second TCI state, and a third octet including a third field for the UE to determine whether the first TCI state and the second TCI state are associated with a same code-point or different code-points of the TCI field.