Lok Sabha Question No. 16 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-02-02
Subject: Studentship Programme for Ayurveda Research Ken
Ministry: AYURVEDA,YOGA & NATUROPATHY,UNANI,SIDDHA AND HOMEOPATHY (AYUSH)
Asked by: Lallu Singh, Ravindra Kushawaha, Sanjay Bhatia, Aparajita Sarangi, Khagen Murmu, Ravi Kishan Shukla, Ganesh Singh, Pradeep Kumar Singh, Arvind Kumar Sharma

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF AYUSH LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 16

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 2 nd  February 2024

"Studentship Programme for Ayurveda Research Ken"

16. SHRI LALLU SINGH:

SHRI RAVINDRA KUSHWAHA:

SHRI SANJAY BHATIA:

SHRIMATI APARAJITA SARANGI:

SHRI KHAGEN MURMU:

SHRI RAVI KISHAN:

SHRI GANESH SINGH:

SHRI PRADEEP KUMAR SINGH:

DR. ARVIND KUMAR SHARMA:

Will the Minister of AYUSH be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of Studentship Programme for Ayurveda Research Ken (SPARK) and how it aims to foster research and innovation within the field of Ayurveda; and
- (b) the details of the opportunities it provides for students to actively contribute to advancements in Ayurvedic sciences?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF AYUSH

(SHRI SARBANANDA SONOWAL)

(a)  The  Studentship  Program  for  Ayurveda  Research  Ken  (SPARK)  was  launched  in September,  2022  by  Central  Council  for  Research  in  Ayurvedic  Sciences  (CCRAS)  to promote  interest  and  aptitude  for  research  among  Ayurveda  undergraduate  students.  The main objective of this programme is to provide an opportunity to undergraduate Ayurveda students  to  familiarize  themselves  with  Research  Methodology  and  techniques  by  being associated for a short duration by undertaking independent research projects. The Application process for SPARK  Programme  is  completely  online  and  it  is for the students of undergraduate  Bachelor  of  Ayurvedic  Medicine  and  Surgery  (BAMS)  from  1 st year  to  4 th year (before appearing in 4 th year final exams). The value of the studentship is Rs. 25,000/per  month  for  two  months  duration  (Total  Rs.  50,000/-)  only.  In  2022-23  batch,  a  total number of 775 research  proposals  were  received  from  which  100  proposals  were  selected through a three tier review system and 95 candidates were awarded Studentship on receipt and  acceptance  of  their  final  reports.  For  the  year  2023-2024,  Ministry  of  Ayush  has increased  the  Annual  intake  from  100  to  200 in  the  Studentship  Program  for  Ayurveda Research Ken (SPARK). This year a total of 2186 students were registered for the SPARK with 615 successful submissions of proposals on the online web portal. On 18/01/2024, the

Result for the SPARK Batch 2023-2024 has been declared on the SPARK Web Portal and CCRAS Website.

- (b) The SPARK Programme has served as a motivation for undergraduate Ayurveda students to pursue research as a career in the future. This programme helps to inculcate research aptitude  and  to  establish  the  groundwork  for  a  high-quality  research  in  Ayurveda  by encouraging more undergraduate students to pursue doctoral and post doctoral research studies. This programme aims to expand the team of brilliant Ayurvedic doctors/researchers in the country, who are well trained in good quality Research to fulfil the  G-20  motives  and  WHO  initiatives  taken  for  Traditional  and  Complementary Medicine and its integration. The students get experience in conducting a scientific study and preparing research proposals on their own, which will help them in their future career development  as  they  pursue  PG,  Ph.D.,  and  other  research-related  goals.  The  Central Council  for  Research  in  Ayurvedic  Sciences  (CCRAS)  also  gains  from  students' innovative research ideas, which would be utilized for larger-scale research projects with their consent.

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