Key Regulatory Bodies and Councils for Indian Systems of Medicine

India’s traditional healthcare ecosystem encompasses Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa-Rigpa, and Homoeopathy (AYUSH). Over the years, the governance of these traditional systems has evolved from fragmented advisory boards to comprehensive statutory commissions under the Ministry of Ayush. This regulatory framework enforces standardized medical education, maintains practitioner registers, regulates drug quality, and drives research across Indian systems of medicine.

Apex Statutory Commissions for AYUSH Governance

National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM)

• Legislative Framework: Formed under the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine Act, 2020, replacing the legacy Central Council of Indian Medicine (CCIM) set up under the Indian Medicine Central Council Act, 1970.
• Jurisdiction: Covers medical education and professional practice in Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, and Sowa-Rigpa.
• Structure: Comprises 29 members appointed by the Central Government, including a Chairperson and heads of autonomous boards.
• Autonomous Boards Under NCISM:
  • Board of Ayurveda: Regulates undergraduate and postgraduate medical education in Ayurveda.
  • Board of Unani, Siddha and Sowa-Rigpa: Oversees academic standards and curriculum design for Unani, Siddha, and Sowa-Rigpa medical disciplines.
  • Medical Assessment and Rating Board for Indian System of Medicine (MARB-ISM): Grants permission for establishing new medical institutions, assesses standards, and rates existing colleges.
  • Board of Ethics and Registration for Indian System of Medicine (BER-ISM): Maintains the National Register of practitioners and enforces professional code of ethics.
• National Examinations: Mandates the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) for undergraduate admissions, Next-Ex (National Exit Test) for licensing, and the National Teachers’ Eligibility Test (NTET) for teaching positions.

National Commission for Homoeopathy (NCH)

• Legislative Framework: Constituted under the National Commission for Homoeopathy Act, 2020, replacing the Central Council of Homoeopathy (CCH) created under the Homoeopathy Central Council Act, 1973.
• Jurisdiction: Regulates homoeopathic medical education, clinical practice, and institutional standards nationwide.
• Autonomous Boards Under NCH:
  • Homoeopathy Education Board: Formulates curriculum guidelines and minimum standards for undergraduate and postgraduate homoeopathy degree courses.
  • Medical Assessment and Rating Board for Homoeopathy: Conducts inspections, permits course expansion, and rates homoeopathic colleges.
  • Board of Ethics and Registration for Homoeopathy: Maintains the National Register of Homoeopathy Practitioners and handles professional misconduct issues.

Statutory and Pharmacopoeial Quality Control Bodies

Pharmacopoeia Commission for Indian Medicine and Homoeopathy (PCIM&H)

• Status: Subordinate office under the Ministry of Ayush, formed by merging the Pharmacopoeia Commission for Indian Medicine & Homoeopathy with the Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia Laboratory (APL) and Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia Laboratory (HPL).
• Location: Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh.
• Core Function: Lays down official quality standards, identity benchmarks, and purity limits for raw drugs and finished formulations of Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy.
• Key Publications: Publishes the Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India (API), Unani Pharmacopoeia of India (UPI), Siddha Pharmacopoeia of India (SPI), and Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia of India (HPI).

Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB) and ASU&H Drugs Technical Advisory Board

• Statutory Provision: Constituted under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.
• Specialized Wing: The Ayurveda, Siddha, and Unani Drugs Technical Advisory Board (ASUDTAB) advises the Central and State Governments on technical matters relating to manufacture, sale, and quality compliance of traditional drugs.
• Regulatory Compliance: Oversees implementation of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) prescribed under Schedule T of the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945.

Apex Research Councils and National Institutes

Central Councils for Research (CCRs)

Autonomous apex bodies under the Ministry of Ayush dedicated to clinical research, drug standardization, and fundamental studies:

• Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS): Headquartered in New Delhi, leads research in clinical research, safety pharmacology, and medicinal plant science.
• Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine (CCRUM): Coordinates clinical trials, drug standardization, and validation of Unani formulations.
• Central Council for Research in Siddha (CCRS): Headquartered in Chennai, focuses on validating classical Siddha literature and herbal remedies.
• Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy (CCRH): Conducts basic and clinical research, proving of homoeopathic drugs, and public health studies.
• Central Council for Research in Yoga and Naturopathy (CCRYN): Coordinates scientific studies and standardization in mind-body medicine and naturopathic therapies.

Specialized Boards for Yoga and Naturopathy

• Yoga Certification Board (YCB): Functions under the Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga (MDNIY) to certify Yoga professionals and accredit institutions.
• Naturopathy Registration Board (NRB): Operates under the National Institute of Naturopathy (NIN), Pune, maintaining the central register for Naturopathy practitioners.

Comparison of Primary Regulatory Commissions

Core Facts for Revision

• NCISM Operational Date: June 11, 2021, replacing the Indian Medicine Central Council Act, 1970.
• NCH Operational Date: September 2, 2020, replacing the Homoeopathy Central Council Act, 1973.
• Sowa-Rigpa Inclusion: Officially included under the purview of NCISM for education and registration oversight.
• PCIM&H Location: Central laboratory and office situated at Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh.
• National Teachers’ Eligibility Test (NTET): Mandatory exam introduced by NCISM for inducting teaching faculty in AYUSH colleges.
• Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP): Mandated under Schedule T of the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945 for Ayurvedic, Siddha, and Unani medicines.
• Ayush Grid: Digital initiative managed by the Ministry of Ayush integrating regulatory, educational, clinical, and research datasets across traditional medicine systems.
• PGR & Quality Control: PCIM&H establishes official monographs that serve as statutory quality control standards under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.