*NCISM approves 35 seats in key disciplines
Govind Sharma
JAMMU, Sept 4: In a significant step for Ayurveda education in Jammu and Kashmir, the Government Ayurvedic Medical College, Akhnoor, has been granted a Letter of Intent (LoI) by the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) to launch seven postgraduate programmes from the academic session 2025-26.
Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp
The approval paves the way for 35 new seats, with five each in Ayurved Samhita, Sanskrit and Siddhanta, Kriya Sharir, Rachna Sharir, Kayachikitsa, Panchkarma, Shalya Tantra, and Kaumarbhritya-Bala Roga. These courses cover a broad spectrum of Ayurvedic study – from classical texts, anatomy and physiology to internal medicine, surgery, specialised therapies and child health – marking a milestone in strengthening traditional medicine education in the Union Territory.
The decision follows detailed inspections and assessments by the Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB) of NCISM under the NCISM Act, 2020. A visitation team carried out evaluations in July, after which the college was asked to address certain shortcomings. On the basis of subsequent compliance and verification, the proposal was cleared in the 145th Board meeting of MARB on September 2, 2025.
However, the Commission has clarified that the Letter of Permission (LoP), mandatory for admitting students, will be issued only after the institution fulfills all regulatory requirements. These include compliance with minimum standards for postgraduate education, strengthening of hospital facilities, adequate infrastructure, and deposit of the prescribed security amount. Till then, no admissions are allowed.
Officials maintained that the addition of new postgraduate courses will provide enhanced opportunities for specialized study, research and healthcare delivery in Ayurveda, offering a major boost to the sector in J&K.
The development comes close on the heels of another major decision yesterday in which the National Medical Commission (NMC) approved 190 additional MBBS seats across five Government Medical Colleges of the UT, taking the overall intake from 1,185 to 1,375 seats. Together, the back-to-back approvals in modern medicine and Ayurveda are being seen as a significant push towards strengthening the region’s medical education and healthcare capacity.
Welcoming the development, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, in a post on X, expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Ayush, Prataprao Jadhav, terming the approval of 35 Ayurveda PG seats as a first for J&K and a huge gift for aspirants of Ayurveda practice in the Union Territory.
He noted that Ayurveda, as a traditional system of medicine, has gained global recognition, with people across the world adopting its techniques for healthcare, disease management, and overall well-being of body, mind, and spirit. The seven new PG programmes at the Government Ayurvedic Medical College, Akhnoor, he said, will not only strengthen J&K’s health architecture but also popularize Ayurveda further.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
