AYUSH : Important Topics for UPSC Exams

AYUSH : Important Topics for UPSC Exams

What?

• It stands for Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy, abbreviated as AYUSH, is a governmental ministerial body in India. Its Sanskrit meaning is “life”.

Why?  

• To cultivate education and research in ayurveda (Indian traditional medicine), yoga, naturopathy, unani, siddha, homoeopathy, Sowa-rigpa(Traditional Tibetan medicine), and other Indigenous Medicine systems.

Timeline

• 1995:  Department of Indian System of Medicine and Homeopathy (ISM&H) formulated.
• 2003:  Department of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy      (AYUSH)    under Ministry of family and health welfare.
• 2014: Ministry of AYUSH created, to ensure the optimal development and propagation of AYUSH systems of health care.

Objectives

• For upgrading the educational standards of Indian Systems of Medicines and Homoeopathy colleges in the country.

• For strengthening existing research institutions and to ensure a time-bound research programme on identified diseases for which these systems have an effective treatment.

• Formulate schemes for promotion, cultivation and regeneration of medicinal plants used in these systems.

• For the evolution of Pharmacopoeial standards for Indian Systems of Medicine and Homoeopathy drugs.

What Impact it may have on Society?

• Will provide growth opportunity to the indigenous medical research and further employment opportunities in the upstream and the downstream of the AYUSH supply chain.

• In the Era of “Superbugs” where even the best antibiotic is becoming futile, Ayush may open the doors of future technologies for healthy life.

• Natural cure may be possible for many severe diseases such as Depression .

• Lesser carbon footprint while developing as well as using the Ayush medicines.

• Promotion of sustainable lifestyle which is one of the goals under the INDCs(Intended Nationally Determined Contribution).

• However, some researcher are still skeptical about the Ayush impact since there is not much concrete research published in the Lancet Journal upon this very subject.

• Some experts suggest that Ayush may be useful as preventive drugs than prescriptive ones.

Buy Printed Study Material for UPSC Pre General Studies (Paper-1)

Online Crash Course for UPSC PRE Exam

<< Go Back to Main Page