Lok Sabha Question No. 3175 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-13
Subject: AYUSH University
Ministry: AYUSH
Asked by: Shri Anil Firojiya

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.-3175 ANSWERED ON 13 th  December, 2024

## 3175. SHRI ANIL FIROJIYA:

Will the Minister of AYUSH be pleased to state:

- (a) the steps taken by the Government to increase the number and improve the quality of AYUSH Universities across the country;
- (b) whether the Government is formulating any special scheme for extending AYUSH medical services to rural and remote areas;
- (c) if so, the details thereof alongwith the steps taken by the Government in this regard;
- (d) the details of schemes being implemented by the Government to promote research and development in the fields of Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy, streamwise; and
- (e) the efforts made by the Government to make AYUSH products and services popular at international level alongwith any special policy that have been implemented in this regard?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) MINISTERY OF AYUSH (SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV)

(a) The establishment of the Universities is done by the State Legislature or by the Parliament; the UGC recognizes such universities established by the competent legislature and their names are  included  in  the  list  of  recognized  universities  maintained  by  the  University  Grants

Commission (UGC) under section 2(f) of the UGC Act.

The UGC conducts the inspection of Universities as per the provisions of section 13 of the UGC Act  to  ascertain  the  standards  of  teaching,  examination  and  research  through  an  Expert

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AYUSH LOK SABHA 'AYUSH University'

Committee  having  members  with  expertise  in  relevant  fields  along  with  the  nominees  of  the respective  councils  established  by  the  relevant  Act  of  Parliament  under  article  246  of  the Constitution for the purpose of co-ordination and determination of standards in specific fields of education or research.

(b) & (c): The Ministry of Ayush is implementing the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National Ayush  Mission  (NAM)  through  States/UTs  including  rural  and  remote  areas;  and  supporting their efforts for promotion and overall development of Ayush system. Under NAM, grant-in-aid is  being provided to the State /UT Governments against their proposals received through State Annual Action Plans (SAAPs) as per the provisions of NAM guidelines. The NAM inter-alia makes provision for following activities:

(i)    Operationalization  of  Ayush  Health  &  Wellness  Centres  (AHWCs)  now  renamed  as Ayushman Arogya Mandir (Ayush).

(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 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) Ayush Public Health Programs.

(viii Establishment of new Ayush colleges in the States where availability of AYUSH teaching institutions is inadequate in Government Sector.

(ix) Infrastructural development of Ayush Under-Graduate Institutions and Ayush Post-Graduate Institutions/add on PG/ Pharmacy/Para-Medical Courses.

(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.

Ongoing schemes under NCISM to promote Research in Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani Sector is as under :-

## 1. STUDENTSHIP PROGRAM

## · SPARK PROGRAM-

NCISM in  the  collaboration  with  CCRAS  under  Studentship  Program  for  Ayurveda  research Ken (SPARK), for 100 undergraduate students of Ayurveda colleges was launched last year. A studentship of Rs.25000 per month for two months is being given.

## · SPUR PROGRAM-

In  Association  with  Central  Council  for  Research  in  Unani  Medicine  (CCRUM),  NCISM implemented  studentship  program  for  Unani  Research  (SPUR)  for  undergraduate  students  to promote research aptitude. A studentship of Rs. 25000 per month for two months is being given.

## 2. PG-STAR PROGRAM-

· In the collaboration of NCISM with Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) has launched Scheme for Training in Ayurveda Research for Post Graduate Scholars (PG-STAR).

(e)   The Ministry has developed a Central Sector Scheme for the Promotion of International Cooperation in AYUSH (IC Scheme) under which the Ministry of Ayush provides support to Indian Ayush  drug  Manufacturers/  Ayush  Service  providers  to  give  boost  to  the  export  of  AYUSH products  &  services;  facilitates  the  International  promotion,  development  and  recognition  of AYUSH  system  of  medicine;  foster  interaction  of  stakeholders  and  market  development  of AYUSH at international  level;  promote  academics  and  research  through  the  establishment  of AYUSH Academic Chairs in foreign countries and holding training workshop/symposiums for promoting  and  strengthening  awareness  and  interest  about  AYUSH  Systems  of  Medicine  at international level.

The Ministry of Ayush has taken the following steps towards the international recognition for AYUSH systems of medicine:-

-  Collaboration  with  Foreign  Countries  by  signing  of  country  level  Memorandum  of Understanding (MoU) for undertaking Ayush related activities on mutual interest. Signed 24  Country  to  Country  MoUs  for  Cooperation  in  field  of  Traditional  Medicine  and Homoeopathy with foreign nations;
-  Signing of  MoUs with foreign institute for research/academic collaboration;
-  15 MoUs for establishment of Ayush Chairs in Foreign Universities/Institutes;
-  Deputation of Ayush expert (short term/long term);
-  Collaboration with World Health Organisation (WHO) or United Nations (UN) agencies for cooperation in the field of Ayush, support or organizing international training;
-  Conference,  seminar,  expo  etc.  in  India  or  abroad  for  promoting  and  strengthening awareness and interest about Ayush Systems of Medicine at international level;
-  Establishment  of  42  Ayush  information  cell  (centre)  in  different  countries  across  the world to provide authentic information about Ayush system;
-  Representing  Ayush  in  various  bilateral  meetings  and  multilateral  forums,  support  for undertaking clinical research in Ayush at international level;
-  Provides support to Indian Ayush Manufacturers/ Ayush Service providers to give boost to export of Ayush products & services etc.
-  Offering  AYUSH  scholarships  to  foreign  nationals  for  courses  in  recognized  AYUSH institutions in India.
-  International  Day  of  Yoga  (IDY),  Celebrated  annually  on  June  21,  IDY  has  become  a flagship  event  following  its  adoption  by  the  United  Nations  in  2014,  with  large-scale participation across the globe through embassies, yoga practitioners, and local communities.
-  Educational  Initiatives  such  as  support  for  yoga  education  through  courses,  and  the establishment  of  Ayush  chairs  in  foreign  universities.  The  Yoga  Certification  Board (YCB),  established  by  the  Ministry  of  Ayush,  provides  internationally  recognized certification for yoga  professionals  and  institutions, ensuring  quality standards  in teaching and practice.

*******