NCISM
NCISM (National Commission for Indian System of Medicine):
Main takeaway: The National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) is India’s apex statutory regulator for education and professional standards in Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, and Sowa-Rigpa. Established under the NCISM Act, 2020, it replaced the Central Council of Indian Medicine (CCIM) with a modern framework focused on quality, transparency, merit-based admissions, standardized curricula, and ethical practice, aligning AYUSH education with contemporary healthcare needs.
1) Background and Rationale
NCISM was constituted to reform the governance of Indian Systems of Medicine (ISM) education on the lines of best-practice regulation—similar to the shift from MCI to NMC in allopathic medicine. Earlier, the CCIM faced concerns regarding uneven quality, opaque approvals, and outdated curricula. NCISM introduces outcome-focused standards, uniform entrance and exit examinations, and institutional accountability to improve the quality of ISM professionals.
Scope covers:
Ayurveda
Siddha
Unani
Sowa-Rigpa (Tibetan system)
Panchakarma, Ilaj-bit-Tadbeer, Kalarichikitsa and other sub-disciplines within these traditions
Homeopathy is regulated separately by NCH (National Commission for Homoeopathy).
2) The NCISM Act, 2020: Key Provisions
Establishes NCISM as a statutory body under the Ministry of AYUSH.
Repeals and replaces the Indian Medicine Central Council Act, 1970.
Lays down a three-tier regulatory architecture: the Commission, Autonomous Boards, and Advisory/Appeal mechanisms.
Introduces National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) for undergraduate admissions and standardized assessment norms for postgraduate seats.
Provides for National Registers for practitioners and State Registers interoperability.
Enables Exit/License examination frameworks, teacher eligibility norms, and periodic assessment of institutions.
Empowers NCISM to frame regulations on curriculum, faculty standards, infrastructure, research ethics, and professional conduct.
Includes provisions for penalties and withdrawal of recognition from non-compliant institutions.
3) Institutional Structure
A. The Commission
Composition: Chairperson, ex-officio members (e.g., Presidents of Boards), part-time members representing states/UTs, domain experts.
Core roles: Policy direction, regulation-making, recognition/withdrawal oversight, coordination across Boards, maintaining National Register, and ensuring accountability.
B. Autonomous Boards
Board of Ayurveda
Board of Unani, Siddha and Sowa-Rigpa (collectively or as separate sections under one board as notified)
Medical Assessment and Rating Board for Indian System of Medicine (MARB-ISM)
Board of Ethics and Registration for Indian System of Medicine (BER-ISM)
C. Advisory/Appeal Bodies
Advisory Council for Indian System of Medicine: Forum for Center–State coordination; inputs on policies, capacity planning, and regional needs.
Appeal mechanisms: Institutions and individuals can appeal against Board/Commission decisions within specified timelines.
4) Core Functions and Mandate
Educational Standards and Curriculum
Prescribes minimum standards of education for UG (e.g., BAMS, BUMS, BSMS) and PG/SS (MD/MS/PhD).
Periodic curriculum revision to integrate classical texts with modern diagnostics, public health, research methodology, pharmacovigilance, and digital health.
Defines credit structures, competencies, internships/rotations, and clinical exposure norms.
Admissions and Examinations
Mandates NEET-UG for entry into ISM undergraduate programs, ensuring merit and transparency.
Standardizes PG entrance routes (e.g., AIAPGET) and seat allocation processes.
Enables uniform assessment standards and potential common exit/license examinations where notified.
Institution Assessment and Recognition
MARB-ISM assesses and rates colleges based on faculty strength, patient load, hospital facilities, labs, herbal gardens, pharmacies, research output, and teaching quality.
Grants permission for new colleges/courses, increases in seats, or new PG/SS disciplines; monitors compliance.
Can suspend/withdraw recognition for deficiencies; ensures public disclosure of ratings.
Professional Ethics and Registration
BER-ISM maintains the National Register of ISM practitioners; integrates with State Registers for portability.
Frames codes of ethics, professional conduct, advertising norms, and standards for clinics/hospitals.
Handles issues of misconduct, disciplinary action, and continuing professional development (CPD) requirements.
Faculty Norms and Teacher Eligibility
Sets standards for teacher qualifications, experience, publication/research requirements, promotions, and teacher eligibility tests where applicable.
Monitors workload, teacher–student ratios, and full-time designation rules.
Research, Quality Assurance, and Public Health
Coordinates with research councils (e.g., CCRAS, CCRUM) for evidence generation, clinical trials, and practice guidelines.
Promotes pharmacovigilance, drug standardization with PLIM/Pharmacopoeia Commission for Indian Medicine and Homoeopathy (PCIM&H), and rational use.
Encourages integration with public health programs, AYUSH wellness centers, preventive and promotive care.
Digital Governance and Transparency
Online application and approval workflows for institutions within defined timelines.
Public dashboards for college status, compliance, and ratings to empower students and stakeholders.
5) Regulatory Instruments
Regulations/Guidelines on:
Minimum standards for UG/PG/SS programs
Curriculum and competencies; internship frameworks
Teacher qualifications and promotions
Institution establishment/seat enhancement norms
Hospital and pharmacy infrastructure benchmarks
Research ethics and clinical trial conduct in ISM
Professional conduct, ethics, and discipline
National/State Register integration and CPD
Notifications and advisories on transition timelines from CCIM-era compliances to NCISM standards.
6) Admissions, Courses, and Training Pathways
Undergraduate (4.5 years + 1-year internship typically):
BAMS (Ayurveda)
BUMS (Unani)
BSMS (Siddha)
BSRMS/BSR (Sowa-Rigpa, where notified)
Postgraduate and Super-specialty:
MD/MS in clinical and non-clinical disciplines (e.g., Kayachikitsa, Shalya, Shalakya, Dravyaguna, Rasashastra, Ilaj-bit-Tadbeer, Maruthuvam)
Diplomas/Fellowships where recognized
Doctoral programs through universities following NCISM-aligned standards
Training emphasis:
Classical textual study, Nadi/Prakriti assessment, Kriyasharira, Rachana Sharira, Dravyaguna, Rasashastra & Bhaishajya Kalpana, Ilaj-bit-Tadbeer, Siddha Gunapadam, Sowa-Rigpa materia medica
Hospital rotations, Panchakarma/Regimen therapy, pharmacy/hospital management, community postings
Evidence-based practice, research methods, biostatistics, ethics
7) Oversight of Institutions and Quality Metrics
Mandatory attached teaching hospital with defined bed strength, OPD/IPD load, and specialty clinics.
Herbal gardens, crude drug museums, pharmacies, quality control labs, and diagnostic facilities.
E-library, simulation labs (where applicable), and digital records.
Continuous assessment through surprise inspections, self-assessment returns, and outcome indicators.
Student feedback mechanisms and grievance redressal at college/university/regulator levels.
8) Ethics, Practice, and Inter-System Standards
Professional conduct: prohibition of misleading claims, mandatory display of qualifications and registration number.
Referral and co-management guidelines to ensure patient safety in cross-referrals with modern medicine where institutional protocols exist.
Emphasis on rational prescription, avoidance of spurious or adulterated drugs, and patient informed consent.
Encouragement of standard treatment guidelines grounded in classical literature and contemporary evidence.
9) Coordination with Other Bodies
Ministry of AYUSH: policy, budget, and programmatic integration (e.g., National AYUSH Mission).
PCIM&H: pharmacopeial standards, monographs, quality norms for ASU&S drugs.
Research councils (CCRAS, CCRUM, CCRS): clinical trials, metanalyses, validation studies.
Universities/NAAC/NIRF: academic audits, institutional rankings.
NABH/NABL: clinical and laboratory accreditation for AYUSH hospitals/labs.
10) Reforms and Impact Areas
Merit-based admissions via NEET and standardized PG entry improved transparency.
Uniform curricula and teacher norms raising academic rigor.
Rating of colleges fosters competition and student-informed choices.
National Register streamlines practitioner verification and mobility.
Better alignment with public health programs and AYUSH HWCs.
Progressive integration of EBM principles: outcome audits, clinical documentation, and research capacity-building.
11) Challenges and Ongoing Priorities
Ensuring adequate patient load and clinical material across all colleges for meaningful training.
Faculty shortages and the need for robust teacher development and retention.
Upgrading labs, pharmacies, and libraries to meet contemporary standards.
Strengthening pharmacovigilance and addressing quality issues in raw drugs/formulations.
Building stronger evidence bases through high-quality trials without diluting classical principles.
Harmonizing Center–State roles in recognition, university affiliations, and inspections.
Scaling digital infrastructure and transparent dashboards for real-time compliance.
