Government of India International AYUSH Scholarship 2020

Government of India through Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) offers scholarships to foreign nationals to pursue various Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopath (AYUSH) courses in India under India-Africa Forum Summit Framework-III. The AYUSH scholarship is provided for Under-graduate studies and 1-year Diploma in Yoga. BAMS, BSMS, BUMS, BAMS courses are offered consist of 5 1/2 year degree course including one year mandatory clinical training (internship).

Prospective students should have sufficient proficiency in English and pay due diligence on the specific admission criteria laid down by the various Universities for each subject and ensure that they submit all relevant documentation as required by the universities. The application can be filled online through A2A portal http://a2ascholarships.iccr.gov.in/.

The following may be kept in mind before applying for the Programme:

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

• Minimum Age limit 18 years at the time of admission.
• Physics, Chemistry and Biology must be the subjects in MSCE.
• Application should be properly filled up and submitted with complete set of   supporting documents.
• Certified copies of the qualifying examination should be enclosed with the application.
• Medical Certificate to be submitted from the recognized hospital in the prescribed format. Applicant should ensure that they are not suffering from T.B., Cancer, AIDS & ailments affecting vital organs and female applicant is not in the family way.

SELECTED CANDIDATES ARE ENTITLED TO THE FOLLOWING :

• ?Payment of Tuition fees/Registration Fees by Govt. of India.
• Return economy class air fares paid by Govt. of India. Return fare ticket will be available on completing the Degree Course.
• ?Hostel Facilities – ICCR scholars will have to compulsorily stay in hostel provided by Government of India. Stay in private accommodation will not be allowed.
• Living Allowance to meet Hostel and food catering charges.
• No Telephonic query will be entertained. Any query, only by email to:         [email protected].

Note: For details about the various AYUSH systems, please visit the website of AYUSH http://www.ayush.gov.in. For details about the courses offered, fee structure and other information, please visit the website of concerned Institute/University.

General Information on AYUSH

Ayurveda

This “science of Life” (Ayu +Veda) takes an integrated view of the physical, mental, spiritual and social aspects of human beings, each impinging on the others. Ayurveda was referred to in the Vedas (Rigveda and Atharvveda) and around 1000 B.C. the knowledge of Ayurveda was comprehensively documented in Charak Samhita and Sushrutha Samhita. According to Ayurveda, health is considered as a pre-requisite for achieving the goals of life – Dharmas, Arth, Kama and Moksha (Salvation) and all objects and living bodies are composed of five basic elements, the Pancha Mahabhootas, namely: Prithvi (earth), Jal (water), Agni (fire), Vayu (air) and Akash (ether). The philosophy of Ayurveda is based on the fundamental harmony between universe and man, a healthy balance between macrocosm and the microcosm. Ayurveda believes in the theory of Tridosha: Vata (ether + air), Pitta (fire) and Kapha (earth + water). These three ‘Doshas’ are physiological entities in living beings. The mental characters of men are described by Satva, Rajas and Tamas. Ayurveda aims to keep these structural and functional entities in a state of equilibrium which signifies good health (Swastha). Any imbalance due to internal or external factors causes disease and the treatment consists of restoring the equilibrium through various techniques, procedures, regimen, diet and medicine.

The treatment in the Ayurveda system is holistic and individualized having two components; preventive and curative. The preventive aspect of Ayurveda is called Svasth-Vritt and includes personal hygiene, regular daily and seasonal regimen, appropriate social behaviour and Rasayana Sevana, i.e., use of rejuvenative materials/food and rasayana drugs. The curative treatment consists of three major categories of procedures, Aushadhi(drugs), Anna(diet) and Vihara (exercises and general mode of life). Ayurveda largely uses plants as raw materials for the manufacture of drugs, though materials of animal, marine origin, metals and minerals are also used. Ayurvedic medicines are safe and have little or no known adverse side-effects.

Ayurveda developed into eight distinct specialities, i.e., Kayachikitsa (Internal Medicine), Kaumar Bhritya (Pediatrics), Graha Chikitsa (Psychiatry), Shalakya (Eye and ENT), Shalya Tantra (Surgery), Visha-Tantra (Toxicology), Rasayana (Geriatrics) and Vajikarna (Science of virility). During the last 50 years of development in the teaching and training in Ayurveda, twenty two specialties have now been developed. These are Ayurveda Sidhanta (Fundamental Principles of Ayurveda), Ayurveda Samhita, Rachna Sharira (Anatomy), Kriya Sharira (Physiology), Dravya Guna Vigyan (Materia Medica and Pharmacology), Ras-Shashtra (Pharmaceuticals using minerals and metals), Bhaishajya Kalpana (Pharmaceuticals), Kaumar Bhritya – Bala Roga (Pediatrics), Prasuti -Tantra evum Stri Roga (Obstetrics and Gynaecology), Swasth-Vritta (Social and Preventive Medicine), Kayachiktisa (Internal Medicine), Rog Nidan avum Vikriti Vigyan (Pathology), Shalya Tantra (Samanya)(Surgery), Salya Tantra – Kshar Karma avum Anushastra Karma (Kshars Karma and Para-surgical procedure), Shalakya Tantra -Netra Roga, Shalakya Tantra – Shiro-Nasa-Karna Avum Kantha Roga (ENT), Shalakya Tantra – Danta Avum Mukha Roga (Dentistry), Manovigyana avum Manas Roga (Psychiatry), Panchakarma, Agad Tantra avum Vidhi Vaidyaka (Toxicology and Jurisprudence), Sangyaharana (Anaesthesiology) and Chhaya avum Vikiran Vigyan (Radiology).

Ayurveda provides a host of treatments for complex diseases, and the traditional and time-tested systems of Ayurveda for holistic healing are available around the country. During recent years, Kshar Sutra and Panchkarma have become popular among the public. Panchakarma is a unique therapeutic procedure for the radical elimination of disease-causing-factors and to maintain the equilibrium of doshas. The Panchakarma therapy reduces the chances of recurrence of the disease and promotes positive health by rejuvenating the vital body systems. Kshar Sutra is an Ayurvedic para-surgical intervention using a medicated thread, which is extremely effective in the treatment of fistula-in-ano and conditions which demand gradual excision of overgrown soft tissues like polyps, warts, non healing chronic ulcers and sinuses and papillae without the need of hospitalization, antibiotics or anesthesia.

Unani

The Unani System of Medicine, which originated in Greece and passed through many countries before establishing itself in India during the medieval period, is based on well-established knowledge and practices relating to the promotion of positive health and prevention of diseases. The Unani System has grown out of the fusion of the traditional knowledge of ancient civilizations like Egypt, Arabia, Iran, China, Syria and India. The system of medicine was documented in Al-Qanoon, a medical Bible, by Sheikh Bu-Ali Sina (Avicena) (980-1037 AD), and in Al-Havi by Razi (850-923 AD) and in many other books written by the Unani physicians. The Unani system is based on the Humoral theory i.e., the presence of blood, phlegm, yellow bile and black bile in a person. The temperament of a person can accordingly be sanguine, phlegmatic, choleric and melancholic depending on the presence and combination of humors. According to Unani theory, the humors and medicinal plants themselves are assigned temperaments. Any change in quantity and quality of the humors, brings about a change in the status of the health of the human body. A proper balance of humors is required for the maintenance of health.

Treatment in Unani consists of three components, namely, preventive, promotive and curative. Unani system of Medicine has been found to be efficacious in conditions like Rheumatic Arthritis, Jaundice, Filariasis, Eczema, Sinusitis and Bronchial Asthma. For the prevention of disease and promotion of health, the Unani System emphasizes six essentials (Asbab-e-Sitta Zarooria):- (a) pure air (b) food and water (c) physical, movement and rest (d) psychic movement and rest (e) sleep and wakefulness and (f) retention of useful materials and evacuation of waste materials from the body. There are four forms of treatment in Unani medicine – Pharmacotherapy, Dietotherapy, Regimental Therapy and Surgery. Regimental therapy (Ilaj Bid Tadbir) is a special technique/ physical method of treatment to improve the constitution of body by removing waste materials and improving the defense mechanism of the body and protect health. The Unani system of medicine offers various methods of treatment which are used for specific and complicated diseases. It emphasizes the use of naturally occurring, mostly herbal, medicines and also uses some medicines of animal, marine and mineral origin.

During the last 50 years, seven Post graduate specialties have been developed (i) Kulliyat (Fundamentals of Unani System of Medicine) (ii) Ilmul Adviya (Pharmacology) (iii) Amraz-e-Niswan (Gynaecology) (iv) Amraz-e-Atfal (Paediatrics) (v) Tahafuzzi-wa-Samaji-Tib (Social and Preventive Medicine) (vi) Moalejat (Medicine) and (vii) Jarahiyat (Surgery). National Institute of Unani Medicine is established in Bangalore to impart good P.G. education in Unani System.

Siddha

The Siddha System is one of the oldest systems of medicine in India and is practiced in the Tamil speaking parts of India and abroad. The term Siddha means ‘achievements’ and Siddhars were saintly persons who achieved ‘results’ in medicine. Eighteen Siddhars were said to have contributed towards the development of this medical system. Siddha literature is in Tamil and it is largely therapeutic in nature.

The Siddha system of Medicine emphasizes that medical treatment is oriented not merely to disease but has to take into account the patient, the environment, age, sex, race, habits, mental frame, habitat, diet, appetite, physical condition, physiological constitution, etc. This means the treatment has to be individualistic and ensures a low probability of incorrect diagnosis or treatment. The diagnosis of diseases in Siddha involves identifying its causes through the examination of pulse, urine, eyes, study of voice, colour of body, tongue and the status of the digestive system. The system has developed a rich and unique treasure house of drug knowledge in which use of metals and minerals is liberally made. Siddha medicines containing mercury, silver, arsenic, lead and sulphur have been found to be effective in treating certain infectious diseases including venereal diseases. The Siddha system is effective in treating chronic cases of liver, skin diseases especially “Psoriasis”, rheumatic problems, anemia, prostate enlargement, bleeding piles and peptic ulcer.

During the last four decades, there has been continuous development in Siddha medical education and this has led to the establishment of the National Institute of Siddha at Chennai an apex institute having six specialties in post-graduate teaching and training. These are Maruthuvam (General Medicine), Sirappu Maruthuvam (Special Medicine), Kuzhanthai Maruthuvam (Paediatrics), Gunapadam (Pharmacology), Noi Nadal (Pathology) and Nanju Nool and Maruthuva Neethinool (Toxicology).

Homoeopathy

Homoeopathy was brought into India around 1810 A.D. by European missionaries and received official recognition by a resolution passed by the Constituent Assembly in 1948 and then by the Parliament.

Homoeopathy is a method of treating diseases by administering drugs which have been experimentally proved to possess the power to produce similar symptoms on healthy human beings. Treatment in Homoeopathy, which is holistic in nature, focuses on an individual’s response to a specific environment. Homoeopathic medicines are prepared mainly from natural substances such as plant products, minerals and from animal sources. Homoeopathic medicines do not have any toxic, poisonous or side effects. Homoeopathic treatment is economical as well and has a very broad public acceptance.

Homoeopathy has its own areas of strength in therapeutics and it is particularly useful in treatment for allergies, autoimmune disorders and viral infections. Many surgical, gynaecological and obstetrical and paediatric conditions and ailments affecting the eyes, nose, ear, teeth, skin, sexual organs etc. are amenable to homoeopathic treatment. Behavioral disorders, neurological problems and metabolic diseases can also be successfully treated by Homoeopathy. Homoeopathy can also be useful for de-addiction from drugs, tobacco and alcohol. Apart from the curative aspects, Homoeopathic medicines are also used in preventive and promotive health care. In recent times, there is an emergence of interest in the use of Homoeopathic medicines in veterinary care, agriculture, dentistry, etc. Homoeopathic medical education has developed in seven specialties in post-graduate teaching, which are Materia Medica, Organon of Medicine, Repertory, Practice of Medicine, Paediatrics, Pharmacy and Psychiatry.

Yoga

Yoga is a discipline to improve or develop one’s inherent power in a balanced manner. It offers the means to attain complete self-realisation. The literal meaning of the Sanskrit word Yoga is ’Yoke’. Yoga can therefore be defined as a means of uniting the individual spirit with the universal spirit of God. According to Maharishi Patanjali, Yoga is the suppression of modifications of the mind.
Yoga is universal in character for practice and application irrespective of culture, nationality, race, caste, creed, sex, age and physical condition. Without practice, no one can experience the utility of Yogic techniques nor can realise of its inherent potential. Only regular practice (sadhana) creates a pattern in body and mind to uplift them. It requires keen desire on the part of the practitioner to experience the higher states of consciousness through training the mind and refining the gross consciousness.

Yoga is an evolutionary process in the development of human consciousness. All paths of Yoga (Japa, Karma, Bhakti etc.) have healing potential to shelter out the effects of pains. However, one especially needs proper guidance from an accomplished exponent, who has already treaded the same track to reach the ultimate goal. The particular path is to be chosen very cautiously in view of his aptitude either with the help of a competent counselor or consulting an accomplished Yogi.

How to Apply

To Apply: The Government would like to inform you that, you need to enroll in an undergraduate degree program at any university in India. Then you are eligible to complete the online application process for the grant.

Additional Information

Documents: Certified copies of the qualifying examination should be enclosed with the application along with some other requirements asked by the universities.

Language Requirement: The candidates must have good proficiency in the English language.

Benefits

Payment of Tuition fees/Registration Fees, return economy class airfares paid by Govt. of India. Return fare ticket will be available on completing the Degree Course, hostel facilities and living allowance to meet Hostel and food catering charges are also included in the award.