Executive Summary:
This document presents the Ministry of AYUSH's response to questions regarding the exclusion of Yoga and Naturopathy from the NCISM Act, 2020, and the establishment of a regulatory framework for these practices. It details the reasons for the exclusion, the existing mechanisms for promoting and regulating Yoga and Naturopathy, and the registration of practitioners. The response references actions taken up to August 8, 2025.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Exclusion from NCISM Act, 2020:**
* Yoga and Naturopathy were not included in the NCISM Act, 2020, because they were not part of the repealed IMCC Act, 1970.
* **Promotion and Strengthening Efforts:**
* The Ministry of AYUSH actively promotes Yoga and Naturopathy.
* The Central Council for Research in Yoga and Naturopathy (CCRYN) serves as the apex Central Research Council.
* Key teaching institutions include the National Institute of Naturopathy (NIN) and the Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga (MDNIY).
* **Regulatory Framework and Registration:**
* No dedicated regulatory framework at par with other AYUSH systems is currently under consideration.
* The Yoga Certification Board (YCB), under MDNIY, certifies Yoga professionals and accredits Yoga institutions.
* The Naturopathy Registration Board (NRB), under NIN, handles central registration of Naturopathy practitioners and accreditation of educational institutions and hospitals.
* The NRB registers Bachelor of Naturopathy and Yogic Sciences (BNYS) graduates from UGC-recognized universities; 523 have been registered to date.
* 15 State-level Councils are functioning and registering Naturopathy practitioners within their jurisdictions.
Impact Analysis:
* **Yoga and Naturopathy Practitioners:**
* *Impact:* Central registration is managed by the NRB for qualified BNYS graduates. State-level councils also register practitioners within their jurisdictions. Yoga professionals can seek certification through the YCB.
* *Action Required:* Naturopathy practitioners should register with the NRB or relevant State-level Councils. Yoga professionals should seek certification through the YCB.
* **Yoga and Naturopathy Educational Institutions:**
* *Impact:* Naturopathy educational institutions and hospitals can seek accreditation through the NRB. Yoga institutions can seek accreditation through the YCB.
* *Action Required:* Institutions should apply for accreditation to the NRB or YCB, respectively.
* **Ministry of AYUSH:**
* *Impact:* Responsible for promoting and strengthening Yoga and Naturopathy through established councils and institutions.
* *Action Required:* Continue to oversee the CCRYN, NIN, MDNIY, YCB and NRB and support their respective functions.
Key Entities Referenced
Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga MDNIY: A teaching institute established by the Ministry of AYUSH.
AYUSH: Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy, Government of India.
Yoga and Naturopathy: A system of medicine that integrates Yoga and Naturopathy principles.
NCISM Act, 2020: National Commission for Indian System of Medicine Act, 2020. An act by the Government of India.
NITI Aayog: National Institution for Transforming India. A policy think tank of the Government of India.
Ministry of Health: The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.
Central Council for Research in Yoga and Naturopathy CCRYN: An apex Central Research Council established by the Ministry of AYUSH.
National Institute of Naturopathy NIN: A teaching institution established by the Ministry of AYUSH.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AYUSH
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3304
ANSWERED ON 08.08.2025
Education Parity to Yoga and Naturopathy
3304. Smt. Smita Uday Wagh:
Dr. Bhola Singh:
Will the Minister of AYUSH
be pleased to state:
(a) the details of the reasons for excluding Yoga and Naturopathy education from the
NCISM Act, 2020, despite clear recommendations by the Parliamentary Standing
Committee and NITI Aayog for their inclusion and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether the Government is considering to provide Yoga and Naturopathy
educational parity and establishing a dedicated regulatory framework at par with
other AYUSH systems and if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether in accordance with the Ministry of Health guidelines dated 4th September
2006 and the recommendations of the Naturopathy Task Force (2009) any concrete
measures have been taken by the Government for the registration of Naturopathy
practitioners and if so, the details thereof;
(d) whether any Central or State-level Council have been constituted for the registration
of Naturopathy practitioners, or is there a proposal or roadmap under consideration
in this regard; and
(e) whether the Government maintain an updated national registry of trained and
traditional Naturopathy practitioners including those with decades of service and if
so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF AYUSH
(SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV)
(a) The Indian Medicine Central Council Act, 1970 (IMCC Act, 1970) has been repealed by
the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine Act, 2020 (NCISM Act, 2020). Since
Yoga and Naturopathy were not part of the IMCC Act, 1970, the same were not included inthe NCISM Act, 2020. However, Ministry of Ayush has been consistently working towards the
promotion and strengthening of Yoga and Naturopathy and has established an apex Central
Research Council namely the Central Council for Research in Yoga and Naturopathy
(CCRYN) and the teaching institutions such as the National Institute of Naturopathy (NIN) and
the Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga (MDNIY).
(b) to ( e) No such proposal for establishing a dedicated regulatory framework at par with other
AYUSH systems has been considered yet. However, the Ministry of Ayush has established the
Yoga Certification Board (YCB) which is functioning under Morarji Desai National Institute
of Yoga and is responsible for certifying Yoga professionals and accrediting Yoga institutions.
Similarly, the Naturopathy Registration Board (NRB) established under the aegis of National
Institute of Naturopathy, Pune, is responsible for the central registration of Naturopathy
practitioners and for the accreditation of Naturopathy educational institutions and hospitals.
The NRB registers institutionally qualified Bachelor of Naturopathy and Yogic Sciences
(BNYS) graduates who hold degrees from University Grants Commission (UGC)-recognized
universities. As of date, 523 BNYS graduates, who hold degrees from UGC-recognized
universities, have been registered under the NRB. In addition to central registration, 15 State-
level Councils are currently functioning and are engaged in registering Naturopathy
practitioners within their respective jurisdictions.
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