Lok Sabha Question No. 1165 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-02-09
Subject: Criteria for SPARK
Ministry: AYURVEDA,YOGA & NATUROPATHY,UNANI,SIDDHA AND HOMEOPATHY (AYUSH)
Asked by: Mohanbhai Kalyanji Kundariya, Dipsinh Shankarsinh Rathod

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AYUSH LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1165 TO BE ANSWERED ON 9 th February 2024 "Criteria for SPARK"

## 1165. SHRI MOHANBHAI KALYANJI KUNDARIYA: SHRI DIPSINH SHANKARSINH RATHOD:

Will the Minister of AYUSH be pleased to state:

- (a) the criteria/qualifications considered in the selection process for students participating in the Studentship Programme for Ayurveda Research Ken (SPARK);
- (b) whether the programme ensures inclusivity and diversity; and
- (c) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF AYUSH (SHRI SARBANANDA SONOWAL)

(a) Ayurveda undergraduates studying in Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS) course (from 1 st year to 4 th year before appearing in 4 th year final exams) can only participate  in  the  Studentship  Program  for  Ayurveda  Research  Ken  (SPARK).  Indian National students who are studying in recognized Ayurvedic medical colleges of India can only apply. NRIs & Students from foreign institutes are not eligible for this program.

Only those proposals will be considered for further evaluation which are recommended by the College Screening Committee and endorsed from the Head of Institute (Principal) after duly abiding by the 10% annual Undergraduate (UG) sanctioned strength clause for e.g., if a college has 100 UG seats annual intake, the college can send only 10 proposals for SPARK 2023-2024.

Selection  of  the  candidates  for  award  of  research  studentship  is  done  on  the  basis  of  two criteria, first on the total marks index (30%) in the previous year exam or in 10+2 in case of 1 st year student and second (70%) after technical evaluation of the research plan on merits, novelty and translational value by a panel of experts.

(b)      The  SPARK programme is open to B.A.M.S. students studying in  Ayurveda colleges recognized  by  National  Commission  for  Indian  System  of  Medicine  (NCISM)  across  the country. The main objective of this program 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 projects.

In  the  2022-23  batch  total  778  proposals  were  received  from  which  100  proposals  were selected  and  95  candidates  were  awarded  studentship  on  submission  of  final  report.  The selected proposals are from diverse research areas such as Clinical research, Fundamental

research, Literary research, Pharmaceutical research/Drug standardization/Techno innovation, Pharmacological, etc. 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).  For  the  year  2023-24, total 615 proposals were received on the online web portal from which 200 proposals were selected. (c)  Details at Annexure - I

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## ANNEXURE-I

## SUMMARY OF STATE & RESEARCH AREA WISE SELECTED SPARK PROPOSALS 2022-23 (100)

| SL.   | STATE          | NO. OF   | RESEARCH AREA     | RESEARCH AREA        | RESEARCH AREA     | RESEARCH AREA                                                      | RESEARCH AREA     | NO. OF    |
|-------|----------------|----------|-------------------|----------------------|-------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------|-----------|
| NO.   |                | COLLEGES | Clinical Research | Fundamental Research | Literary Research | Pharmaceutical research / Drug Standardization / Techno innovation | Pharma- cological | PROPOSALS |
| 1.    | ANDHRA PRADESH | 01       | 01                | 0                    | 0                 | 0                                                                  | 0                 | 01        |
| 2.    | CHATTISGARH    | 01       | 02                | 0                    | 0                 | 0                                                                  | 0                 | 02        |
| 3.    | GUJARAT        | 06       | 07                | 0                    | 01                | 01                                                                 | 0                 | 09        |
| 4.    | HARYANA        | 03       | 0                 | 03                   | 0                 | 0                                                                  | 0                 | 03        |
| 5.    | KARNATAKA      | 14       | 08                | 04                   | 03                | 14                                                                 | 05                | 34        |
| 6.    | KERALA         | 07       | 06                | 02                   | 01                | 04                                                                 | 0                 | 13        |
| 7.    | MADHYA PRADESH | 04       | 01                | 03                   | 0                 | 0                                                                  | 01                | 05        |
| 8.    | MAHARASHTRA    | 06       | 03                | 01                   | 02                | 07                                                                 | 0                 | 13        |
| 9.    | MEGHALAYA      | 01       | 01                | 0                    | 0                 | 0                                                                  | 0                 | 01        |
| 10.   | NEWDELHI       | 01       | 0                 | 01                   | 01                | 0                                                                  | 0                 | 02        |
| 11.   | ODISHA         | 02       | 0                 | 01                   | 0                 | 01                                                                 | 0                 | 02        |
| 12.   | PUDUCHERRY     | 01       | 0                 | 0                    | 0                 | 01                                                                 | 0                 | 01        |
| 13.   | PUNJAB         | 02       | 0                 | 0                    | 01                | 0                                                                  | 01                | 02        |
| 14.   | RAJASTHAN      | 01       | 0                 | 02                   | 02                | 01                                                                 | 0                 | 05        |
| 15.   | TAMIL NADU     | 01       | 01                | 0                    | 0                 | 0                                                                  | 0                 | 01        |
| 16.   | TELENGANA      | 01       | 01                | 0                    | 0                 | 0                                                                  | 0                 | 01        |
| 17.   | UTTAR PRADESH  | 02       | 01                | 01                   | 01                | 0                                                                  | 0                 | 03        |
| 18.   | UTTARAKHAND    | 01       | 0                 | 0                    | 0                 | 0                                                                  | 01                | 01        |
| 19.   | WEST BENGAL    | 01       | 0                 | 0                    | 0                 | 01                                                                 | 0                 | 01        |
| TOTAL | TOTAL          | 56       | 32                | 18                   | 12                | 30                                                                 | 8                 | 100       |