Parliament Question: Functioning of AYUSH Colleges in Tamil Nadu

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AYUSH LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1007 ANSWERED ON 24.07.2026 Functioning of AYUSH Colleges in Tamil Nadu

1007. Shri Selvam G:

Will the Minister of Ayush be pleased to state:

(a) the total number of Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Homoeopathy colleges functioning in Tamil Nadu along with their annual intake capacity and actual admissions during the academic years 2024-25 and 2025-26;

(b) whether the Government has assessed the adequacy of seats, faculty and infrastructure in AYUSH institutions in the said State, if so, the details thereof;

(c) the details of funds allocated and utilised during the last five years to research institutions and colleges in the said State under various AYUSH disciplines including support provided through Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy (CCRH) and Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine (CCRUM);

(d) whether there are any proposals from the State Government of Tamil Nadu for establishing new AYUSH colleges or increasing undergraduate and postgraduate seats under the National Ayush Mission pending with the Union Government and the reasons for delay, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and

(e) the steps taken by the Government to ensure adequate clinical exposure, hospital facilities and quality standards in AYUSH colleges across the said State? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) MINISTRY OF AYUSH (SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV)

(a) The total number of Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Homoeopathy colleges functioning in Tamil Nadu along with their annual intake capacity and actual admissions during the academic years 2024-25 and 2025-26 are annexed herewith as Annexure-I.

(b) & (e) The Central Government has enacted the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine Act, 2020 and the National Commission for Homoeopathy Act, 2020 for Indian system of Medicine and Homoeopathy respectively. Further, the Central Government, by notification, constituted two Commissions, namely the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) and theNational 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. NCISM notified Minimum Essential Standards, Assessment and Rating for Undergraduate Ayurveda Colleges and Attached Teaching Hospitals Regulations, 2024 for assessment and rating of Ayurveda medical institutions; Minimum Essential Standards Assessment and Rating for UG Unani colleges & Attached Teaching Hospitals Regulations, 2023 for assessment and rating of Unani medical institutions; Minimum Essential Standards, Assessment and Rating for Undergraduate Siddha Colleges and Attached Teaching Hospitals Regulations, 2024 for assessment and rating of Siddha medical institutions; Minimum Essential Standards Assessment and Rating for UG Sowa- Rigpa Colleges & Attached Teaching Hospitals Regulations, 2023 for assessment and rating of Sowa-Rigpa medical institutions and NCH notified Assessment and Rating of Medical Institutions Regulations, 2024 for assessment and rating of homoeopathy medical institutions. The aforesaid regulations prescribed the Minimum Essential Standards/Minimum Standards Requirements for Ayush medical institutions covering infrastructure, faculty, teaching hospitals, clinical facilities, patient attendance, equipment and other academic requirements.

Compliance with these standards is assessed by the respective Medical Assessment and Rating Boards during the process of granting or renewing permission for admissions. This mechanism ensures the adequacy of seats, faculty, infrastructure, clinical exposure and quality standards in Ayush colleges across the country, including the State of Tamil Nadu.

(c) Public health and hospitals being a State subject, the establishment of new Ayush Educational Institutions and upgradation of existing institutions comes under the purview of the respective State/UT Governments, including the Government of Tamil Nadu. However, the Ministry of Ayush is implementing the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of the National Ayush Mission (NAM) through the State/UT Governments, including Tamil Nadu, for the promotion, overall development and public awareness of Ayush systems of medicine. Under NAM, financial assistance is provided to eligible States/UTs against proposals received through their State Annual Action Plans (SAAPs), in accordance with the NAM Guidelines and subject to appraisal, approval and availability of funds. The Mission, inter alia, also provides for (i) establishment of new Government Ayush Colleges underserved States; and (ii) infrastructure support to Ayush Educational Institutions, including Undergraduate (UG), Postgraduate (PG), add-on, paramedical and pharmacy programmes. The detail of fund allocated and utilized by Government of Tamil Nadu under NAM during the last five years are attached as Annexure-II.

The details of the funds allocated and utilized during the last five years to research institutions and colleges in the said State under various AYUSH disciplines, including support provided through the Central Council for Research in AyurvedicSciences (CCRAS), the Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy (CCRH), and the Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine (CCRUM), as well as the funds released and utilized under the National AYUSH Mission (NAM) for the establishment of new Government AYUSH Colleges in underserved States and infrastructure support to AYUSH educational institutions, including Undergraduate (UG), Postgraduate (PG), add-on, paramedical, and pharmacy programmes, are attached as Annexure-II.

The Ministry of Ayush is implementing Central Sector Schemes namely Ayurgyan since 2021-22 with the aim to support Research & Innovation in Ayush by providing Extra Mural Research activities and Education by providing academic activities, training, Capacity Building etc. Under the scheme, financial assistance amounting to Rs. 572 Lakhs (i.e Rs. 173.50 lakh under CME and Rs. 398.50 lakhs under R&I component) have been released to various institutions/organizations located in the State of Tamil Nadu.

(d) Ministry of Ayush is implementing the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of the National Ayush Mission (NAM) through the State/UT Governments, including Tamil Nadu. Under NAM, financial assistance is provided to eligible States/UTs against proposals received through their State Annual Action Plans (SAAPs), in accordance with the NAM Guidelines and subject to appraisal, approval and availability of funds. There is no proposal from the Government of Tamil Nadu for the establishment of new Ayush colleges or for increasing undergraduate and postgraduate seats under the National Ayush Mission (NAM). Public health and hospitals being a State subject, the establishment of new Ayush Educational Institutions and upgradation of existing institutions comes under the purview of the respective State/UT Governments, including the Government of Tamil Nadu.Annexure-I Total number of Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Homoeopathy colleges functioning in Tamil Nadu along with their annual intake capacity and actual admissions during the academic year 2024-25 and 2025-26 2024-25* Stream Colleges Annual Admission Annual Admission Intake in UG Intake in PG Capacity in Capacity in UG PG Ayurveda 08 430 380 30 30 Siddha 16 1040 1030 152 150 Unani 01 60 51 11 11 Homoeopathy 14 1073 912 123 86 2025-26* Stream Colleges Annual Admission Annual Admission Intake in UG Intake in PG Capacity in Capacity in UG PG Ayurveda 08 430 365 30 27 Siddha 16 1040 880 152 144 Unani 01 75 56 11 11 Homoeopathy 14 1073 672 123 80 *Source by NCISM & NCHAnnexure-II A. The Budget allocation and Utilised during the last five years in Tamil Nadu for Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS)* as follows:

(Rs. in crore) Institute 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 2025-26 Dr. Achanta Lakshmipati Regional 2.00 2.50 2.70 3.57 3.64 Ayurveda Research Institute (ALRARI), Chennai Captain Srinivasa Murthy Central 3.04 4.78 5.88 6.00 6.02 Ayurveda Research Institute

(CSMCARI), Chennai *Source by CCRAS B. The Budget allocation during the last five years in Tamil Nadu for Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy (CCRH) as follows: (Rs. in Lakh) Institute 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 2025-26 Centre of Medicinal Plants Research in

64.45 60.08 74.13 68.73 56.47 Homoeopathy,Ooty Homoeopathy Research Institute for

107.11 129.34 96.80 82.88 130.96 Disabilities (HRID), Chennai *Source by CCRH C. The Budget allocation during the last five years in Tamil Nadu for Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine (CCRUM)* as follows:

(Rs. in crore) Institute 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 2025-26 Regional Research Institute of Unani 9.148 7.8075 10.4684 12.7500 14.0543 Medicine (RRIUM), Chennai *Source by CCRUM D. The National Ayush Mission (NAM), inter alia, provides for (i) the establishment of new Government Ayush Colleges in Tamil Nadu State and (ii) infrastructure support to Ayush educational institutions, including Undergraduate (UG), Postgraduate (PG), add-on, paramedical, and pharmacy programmes during the last five years (2021–22 to 2025–26), (Rs. in crore) 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 2025-26

23.483 24.287 66.358 73.803 23.035 *Source by NAM