The National Commission for Indian System of Medicine Act, 2020
Administered Ministry: Ministry of Ayush
Act details
| Short title | The National Commission for Indian System of Medicine Act, 2020 |
|---|---|
| Long title | An Act to provide for a medical education system that improves access to quality and affordable medical education, ensures availability of adequate and high quality medical professionals of Indian System of Medicine in all parts of the country; that promotes equitable and universal healthcare that encourages community health perspective and makes services of such medical professionals accessible and affordable to all the citizens; that promotes national health goals; that encourages such medical professionals to adopt latest medical research in their work and to contribute to research; that has an objective periodic and transparent assessment of medical institutions and facilitates maintenance of a medical register of Indian System of Medicine for India and enforces high ethical standards in all aspects of medical services; that is flexible to adapt to the changing needs and has an effective grievance redressal mechanism and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. |
| Act number | 14 of 2020 |
| Act year | 2020 |
| Enactment date | 20 Sep 2020 |
| Ministry | Ministry of Ayush |
| Jurisdiction | Central (Parliament of India) |
| Sections | 59 |
| Status | Not repealed |
| Last checked on India Code | 28 Oct 2026 |
| Source | India Code, Government of India |
Summary
Summary of The National Commission for Homoeopathy Act, 2020
Overview
*Act Name: The National Commission for Homoeopathy Act, 2020 *Key Focus: Regulating Homoeopathy education, practice, and research in India, emphasizing standardized quality and ethical practices. *Governance: Establishes the National Commission for Homoeopathy (NCH) with autonomous boards, under the Central Government's regulatory oversight.
Core Objectives
1. Quality Education: Ensure uniform, quality Homoeopathy education nationwide.
2. Standardized Practice: Set and enforce standards for Homoeopathy professionals.
3. Ethical Compliance: Promote and regulate ethical practices in Homoeopathy.
4. Integrated Healthcare Contribution: Strengthen Homoeopathy's role in India's healthcare system.
5. Structured Governance: With clear roles for NCH, autonomous boards, and the Central Government.
Governance Structure
1. National Commission for Homoeopathy (NCH):
• Appointment: By the Central Government, with defined eligibility.
• Roles: Oversight, policy, regulation, and standard setting in Homoeopathy.
2. Autonomous Boards: - Education Board: For curriculum and education standards.
• Medical Assessment & Rating Board: For institution evaluation.
• Ethics & Registration Board: For practitioner ethics and registration.
• Specific Responsibilities: Outlined for each, ensuring comprehensive coverage.
Key Provisions
• Membership & Elections:
• Clear Eligibility: For Central Council members, with succession planning allowed within three months before term expiry.
• Term Management: Defined terms, ensuring continuity and preventing gaps.
• Meetings & Decision Making:
• Scheduled Meetings: At least annually for the Central Council, with defined quorum and majority voting.
• Committee Operations: Similar structure for committees, ensuring efficiency.
• Registration & Practice:
• Mandatory Registration: For all practitioners, with national and state registers.
• Continuous Professional Development: Encouraged for updated practices.
• Disciplinary & Ethical Framework:
• Clear Procedures: For addressing unethical practice or misconduct.
• Appeal Mechanisms: Ensuring fairness in disciplinary actions.
• Administrative & Transitional:
• Rule Making Authority: Rests with the Central Government, with parliamentary oversight.
• Smooth Transition: From the repealed Homoeopathy Central Council Act, 1973, protecting existing rights.
Transition & Repeal
• Repeal of Old Act: With protective clauses for existing registrations and seamless transition.
• Transitory Measures: Ensuring no gap in regulatory and governance functions during the transition.
Legislative history
Legislative History:
The National Commission for Indian System of Medicine Act, 2020
Short Title - The National Commission for Indian System of Medicine Act, 2020
Act Number / Year - Act No. 14 of 2020
India Code Act ID - 202014
Presidential Assent Date - September 20, 2020
Official Gazette Publication - September 20, 2020
Administrative Nodal Ministry Ministry of AYUSH
Enforcement Date - enforced on October 7, 2020, with the main commission fully operationalized on June 11, 2021
Precedent & Statutory Rationale
1. Structural Limitations of the 1970 Framework:
o Prior to 2020, the regulation of education and professional practice in traditional systems of medicine (Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, and Sowa-Rigpa) was governed by the Indian Medicine Central Council Act, 1970. Over decades, the regulatory body established under it faced severe institutional bottlenecks, lack of transparency, allegations of corruption, and an inability to drive uniform national educational and quality standards.
2. Reforming Traditional Medicine Education and Healthcare Access:
o Grounded in national policy goals to overhaul medical education, enhance the availability of quality and affordable traditional healthcare professionals, promote integration with modern scientific research, and ensure transparent, objective periodic assessments of medical colleges.
Parliamentary Trajectory & Enactment
• Formulation: Developed and piloted by the Ministry of AYUSH under the Union Government to restructure governance across traditional medical sciences.
• Parliamentary Passage: Introduced as a comprehensive legislative reform, passed by both Houses of Parliament during the monsoon session of September 2020.
• Presidential Assent: Received formal Presidential Assent on September 20, 2020, entering the statute book as Act No. 14 of 2020.
• Enforcement: Brought into active operational force through progressive central notifications, culminating in the formal constitution of the National Commission on June 11, 2021
Source: India Code and Ministry of AYUSH Official Records