Lok Sabha Question No. 1119 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-08
Subject: Seats in AYUSH Colleges
Ministry: AYURVEDA,YOGA & NATUROPATHY,UNANI,SIDDHA AND HOMEOPATHY (AYUSH)
Asked by: Suresh Kodikunnil

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF AYUSH

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.-1119 ANSWERED ON 08 th  December, 2023 Seats in AYUSH Colleges

## 1119. SHRI KODIKUNNIL SURESH:

Will the Minister of AYUSH be pleased to state:

- (a)   whether  the  Government  is  aware  of  an  increase  in  the  number  of  vacant  seats  in Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Homoepathy colleges of both the Government and private sectors in the country;
- (b)  if so, the details thereof in the current academic year;
- (c)   whether the Government proposes to take any steps in promoting AYUSH education and the AYUSH model of medical treatments in the country; and
- (d)  if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF AYUSH (SHRI SARBANANDA SONOWAL)

(a)  and  (b)  No  sir,  the  number  of  vacant  seats  in  Ayurveda,  Siddha,  Unani  and Homoeopathy Colleges  of  both  Government  and  Private  sector  in  the  country  for  the  current  academic  year (2023-24) is reduced as compared with the previous academic year (2022-23).

(c) and (d) In the process of promotion and development of the Ayush sector and to streamline the  education  of  the  Indian  System  of  Medicine  &  Homoeopathy  (ISM  &  H),  the  Central Government  has  enacted  the  National  Commission  for  Indian  System  of  Medicine  Act  2020 (NCISM Act  2020)  and  National  Commission  for  Homoeopathy  Act  2020  (NCH  Act  2020). Further,  the  Central  Government,  by  notification,  constituted  two  commissions,  namely  the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) and the National Commission for

Homoeopathy  (NCH)  to  exercise  the  powers  conferred  upon  and  to  perform  the  functions assigned to them under the NCISM Act 2020 & NCH Act 2020 respectively.

The  National  Commission  for  Indian  System  of  Medicine  (NCISM)  Act,  2020,  and  National Commission for  Homoeopathy  (NCH) Act, 2020 are available at the following link: https://ncismindia.org/NCISM%20Gazette%20notification.pdf and http://nch.org.in/upload/pdf\_upload-381801.pdf  respectively.

Ministry of Ayush is implementing the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National Ayush Mission (NAM)  across  the  country  through  State/UT  Governments  for  overall  development  and promotion  of  Ayush  systems  and  providing  financial  assistance  to  them  as  per  the  proposals received in their State Annual Action Plans (SAAPs) as per NAM guidelines. The mission interalia makes provision for the following: -

- i. Operationalization  of  Ayush  Health  &  Wellness  Centres  by  upgrading  existing Ayush   dispensaries and Health Sub-centres
- ii. Co-location  of  Ayush  facilities  at  Primary  Health  Centres  (PHCs),  Community Health Centres (CHCs) and District Hospitals (DHs)
- iii. Upgradation of existing standalone Government Ayush Hospitals
- iv. Upgradation of existing Government/ Panchayat/ Government aided Ayush Dispensaries/Construction  of  building  for  existing  Ayush  Dispensary  (Rented/ dilapidated  accommodation)/  Construction  of  building  to  establish  new  Ayush Dispensary
- v. Setting up of upto 10/30/50 bedded integrated Ayush Hospitals.
- vi. Supply of essential drugs to Government Ayush Hospitals, Government Dispensaries  and  Government/  Government  aided  Teaching  Institutional  Ayush Hospitals.
- vii. Establishment  of  new  Ayush  colleges  in  the  States  where  availability  of  Ayush teaching institutions is inadequate in Government Sector.
- viii. Infrastructural development of Ayush Under-Graduate Institutions
- ix. Infrastructural development  of  Ayush  Post-Graduate Institutions/add on  PG/ Pharmacy/Para-Medical Courses.

State/UT  Governments  may  avail  the  eligible  financial  assistance  by  submitting  the  suitable proposals through their SAAPs as per the provision of NAM guidelines

Further,  the  following  reforms  have  been  taken  for  bringing  transparency  &  improve  quality education in AYUSH institutions:

- i. Admission  is  being  done  through  the  common  Entrance  Examination  now  National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET-UG) to all Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, and Homoeopathy (ASU & H) Under-Graduate courses conducted by National Testing Agency (NTA).
- ii. Admissions to all Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, and Homoeopathy (ASU & H) Post graduate Colleges are being done through a common Entrance test called All India AYUSH Post Graduate Entrance Test (AIAPGET) conducted by National Testing Agency (NTA).
- iii. All India Quota Seats have been created: Minimum 15% of the total seats (which may be more as per existing rules of the concerned State/University/Institutes) of all ASU & H (UG  &  PG)  courses  in  Government,  Government  aided,  Private  Colleges,  Deemed Universities, Central Universities and National Institutes from academic year 2019-20.
- iv. A Committee namely AYUSH Admissions Central Counseling Committee (AACCC) has also  been  constituted  to  conduct  counseling  for  All  India  Quota  (AIQ)  seats  under Government,  Government  aided,  Central  Universities  National  Institutes  and  Deemed Universities for every academic year.
- v. National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (Minimum Standards of Undergraduate Ayurveda Education) Regulation-2022 has been notified.
- vi. National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (Minimum Standards of Undergraduate Unani Education) Regulations-2022 has been notified.
- vii. National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (Minimum Standards of Undergraduate Siddha Education) Regulations-2022 has been notified.
- viii. National Commission for Indian System of Medicine ((Minimum Standard of Undergraduate Sowa-Rigpa Education) Regulations-2022 has been notified.
- ix. National  Commission  for  Homoeopathy  (Homoeopathy  Graduate  Degree  Course  Bachelor  of  Homoeopathic  Medicine  and  Surgery  (B.H.M.S).  Regulations-  2022  has been notified.

Furthermore, the steps taken by the NCISM, NCH and Research Councils for the promotion and development of AYUSH education in the country are placed as Annexure-I.

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## The steps taken by Government for the promotion and development of AYUSH education in the country:

- i. National  Commission  for  Indian  System  of  Medicine  (NCISM)  has  prepared  and implemented 1 st professional competency based/outcome based syllabus for Ayurveda, Siddha,  Unani  and  Sowa-Rigpa  streams  based  on  the  National  Education  Policy (NEP).
- ii. Since  NCISM  is  focusing  on  skill  development,  teaching  hours  to  be  devoted  for practical/clinical training has been made twice in respect to classroom teaching hours.
- iii. To acquaint knowledge in multidisciplinary aspects, online Elective courses have been implemented for all Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Sowa-Rigpa Colleges.
- iv. An  orientation  program  for  all  PG  guides  has  been  conducted  by  the  NCISM  to improve  the  quality  of  PG  dissertation  work  and  subsequent  publications  in  ASU colleges.
- v. NCISM  has  initiated  the  proceedings  to  facilitate  industry  academic  interface  to provide industry oriented training for ASU PG students.
- vi. Steps  have  been  taken  by  NCISM  to  formulate  the  Methodology  to  incorporate Modern  Advances,  Scientific  and  Technological  Development  in  the  curriculum  of ASU.
- vii. Early  clinical  exposure  to  medical  students  also  implemented  from  first  year  of  the course/ program.
- viii. NCISM  has  trained  master  trainers  who  are  well-oriented  in  publication  ethics, research  integrity  and  scientific  writing  so  as  to  train  all  PG  guides  of  ASUS  post graduate institutions across the country.
- ix. National Commission for Homoeopathy (NBCH) has been constituted to improve the quality  of  education,  through  regulatory  provisions  &  streamlining  of  registration, ethical practice throughout the Country.
- x. To  make  people  aware  about  benefits  of  Ayush  treatment  during  Azadi  ka  Amrit Mahotsav health camps and Ayush awareness sessions for schools were organized by the Homoeopathy Medical Colleges all over India.
- xi. To  create  awareness  about  homoeopathy  treatment  regular  medical  camps  for  local residents, schools are conducted by Homoeopathy Medical Colleges from time to time.
- xii. To promote the Homoeopathy Medical Education, National Commission for Homoeopathy has organized 04 stakeholders meet at various places in India.
- xiii. Homoeopathy medical colleges encouraged to get NAAC and NABH accreditation for quality services to public through attached hospitals.
- xiv. NCH has developed competency based dynamic curriculum as per recommendation of national Education policy 2020.
- xv. NCH has envisioned raising competencies and skills of teaching faculties in alignment with modern understanding with a regular update vis-à-vis technological advancement.
- xvi. NCISM  made  MoU  withCentral  Council  for  Research  in  Ayurvedic  Sciences (CCRAS) to provide research grant for UG and PG students under SPARK scheme.
- xvii. CCRAS,  New  Delhi an  autonomous  organization,  has  taken  following  steps  for promoting AYUSH Education in the country -

## (a) For Post Graduate students -

-  Ayush Ph.D. Fellowship programme
-  CCRAS Post-Doctoral Fellowship Scheme (PDF)
-  Scheme for Training in Ayurveda Research for PG Scholars (PG-STAR)

## (b) For Under Graduate Students -

-  Studentship Programme for Ayurveda Research Ken (SPARK)

## (c)  For  Candidates  with  Intermediate/  Senior  School  Certificate  Examination (Class XII) (12 years of Schooling) -

-  Panchakarma Technician Course (PTC)