**Summary:**
This document summarizes the Ministry of AYUSH's response to concerns raised in Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 962, answered on July 25, 2025, regarding the exclusion of Yoga and Naturopathy from the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM). The Ministry acknowledges the concerns but clarifies that Yoga and Naturopathy were not included in the Indian Medicine Central Council Act, 1970, and consequently, were not considered for inclusion in the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine Act, 2020, because they are drugless systems, unlike other Indian Systems of Medicine. The Ministry emphasizes its ongoing efforts to promote and strengthen Yoga and Naturopathy through the Central Council for Research in Yoga and Naturopathy (CCRYN), the National Institute of Naturopathy (NIN), and the Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga (MDNIY). Currently, there are no plans to integrate Yoga and Naturopathy under the NCISM framework. The response was provided by the Minister of State (IC) of the Ministry of AYUSH, Shri Prataprao Jadhav.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of AYUSH: The Indian government ministry responsible for developing and promoting Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy.
Yoga and Naturopathy: Drugless systems of medicine excluded from the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine.
National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM): A commission established by an act of parliament to regulate the Indian System of Medicine, excluding Yoga and Naturopathy.
Indian Medicine Central Council Act, 1970: The former act that did not include Yoga and Naturopathy and served as the basis for the NCISM Act, 2020.
National Commission for Indian System of Medicine Act, 2020: The act that established the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine, excluding Yoga and Naturopathy.
Central Council for Research in Yoga and Naturopathy (CCRYN): An apex Central Research Council established by the Ministry of AYUSH for Yoga and Naturopathy.
National Institute of Naturopathy (NIN): A teaching institution established by the Ministry of AYUSH for Naturopathy.
Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga (MDNIY): A teaching institution established by the Ministry of AYUSH for Yoga.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AYUSH
Lok SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 962
ANSWERED ON 25.07.2025
Exclusion of Yoga and Naturopathy from NCISM
† 962 Shri Gumma Thanuja Rani:
Will the Minister of AYUSH
be pleased to state:
(a) Whether Government is aware of concerns raised regarding the exclusion of Yoga
and Naturopathy from the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine
(NCISM);
(b) if so, the details thereof, including the rationale for this exclusion and its impact on
professionals in these disciplines;
(c) whether the Ministry is considering any measures to integrate Yoga and Naturopathy
under the NCISM framework to provide regulatory oversight and professional
recognition; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF AYUSH
(SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV)
(a) and (b) Yes. Yoga and Naturopathy were not included in the erstwhile Indian Medicine Central
Council Act, 1970 and accordingly were also not considered for inclusion in the National
Commission for Indian System of Medicine Act, 2020, as unlike other Indian System of
Medicines, these are drugless systems. 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).
(c) and (d) No such measures have been considered yet.
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