Lok Sabha Question No. 3984 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-24
Subject: Astrology in BAMS Curriculum
Ministry: AYURVEDA,YOGA & NATUROPATHY,UNANI,SIDDHA AND HOMEOPATHY (AYUSH)
Asked by: Abdul Majeed Ariff

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AYUSH

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.-3984 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24/03/2023

## ASTROLOGY IN BAMS CURRICULUM

## 3984 #ADV. A.M. ARIFF:

Will the Minister of AYUSH be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  intends  to  enhance  the  higher  education  opportunities  for AYUSH professionals in the country, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether it is true that the National Council for Indian Systems of Medicine (NCISM) has introduced  Astrology  as  an  optional  subject  in  Bachelor  of  Ayurvedic  Medicine  and Surgery  (BAMS) programme in the country which is against scientific rationale;
- (c) if  so,  the  details  thereof  including  the  State-wise  number  of  students  enrolled  for  said subject in the country; and
- (d) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  issue  urgent  instructions  to  the  NCISM  for  the withdrawal of Astrology as a subject in BAMS for upholding the principle of scientific temper enshrined in the Constitution and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTRY OF AYUSH (SHRI SARBANANDA SONOWAL)

- (a) As per the Second Schedule of allocation of Union Business, the Ministry of Ayush has a mandate for Education, Training and Research in all aspects of Indian Systems of  Medicine  including  Ayurveda,  Yoga,  Naturopathy,  Unani,  Siddha,  Sowa-Rigpa and Homoeopathy. In last Seven years (from A.Y. 2016-17 to 2022-23), the number of Postgraduate seats increase from 4007 to 4786 in Ayurveda, from 202 to 404 in Unani,  from  140  to  167  in  Siddha  and  from  1134  to  1594  in  Homoeopathy.  This increase  in  the  number  of  AYUSH  PG  Seats,  improves  the  higher  education opportunities for AYUSH professionals in the Country.
- (b) & (c) Yes, Medical Astrology has been introduced as elective course (online) in Ayurveda, Siddha,  Unani  and  Sowa-Rigpa  curriculum.  The  details  of  state-wise  enrolled students has placed at Annexure-I.
- (d) At present no such proposal is under consideration to issue urgent instructions to the NCISM for the withdrawal of Astrology as elective course (online).

## Number of students enrolled for Medical Astrology as elective course (online)

| Sl. No.     | State            |   Count of Students |
|-------------|------------------|---------------------|
| 1.          | Andhra Pradesh   |                   1 |
| 2.          | Bihar            |                  12 |
| 3.          | Chandigarh       |                   6 |
| 4.          | Chhattisgarh     |                  11 |
| 5.          | Delhi            |                   8 |
| 6.          | Goa              |                   5 |
| 7.          | Gujarat          |                  56 |
| 8.          | Haryana          |                  18 |
| 9.          | Himachal Pradesh |                  10 |
| 10.         | Jammu &Kashmir   |                   4 |
| 11.         | Jharkhand        |                   2 |
| 12.         | Karnataka        |                 138 |
| 13.         | Kerala           |                  20 |
| 14.         | Madhya Pradesh   |                  45 |
| 15.         | Maharashtra      |                 152 |
| 16.         | Odisha           |                  13 |
| 17.         | Puducherry       |                   2 |
| 18.         | Punjab           |                  13 |
| 19.         | Rajasthan        |                  21 |
| 20.         | Tamil Nadu       |                  35 |
| 21.         | Telangana        |                   1 |
| 22.         | Uttar Pradesh    |                  78 |
| 23.         | Uttarakhand      |                  17 |
| 24.         | West Bengal      |                   3 |
| Grand Total | Grand Total      |                 671 |