We, the undersigned, urge the Ministry of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy), the National Commission for Homeopathy (NCH), Ministry of Education, University Grant Commission (UGC) and Association of Indian Universities (AIU) to establish a system for issuing equivalency certificate or an official announcement for AYUSH UG degrees as equivalent as a Medical Diploma like MBBS for getting equal eligibility to apply for courses e.g. M.MedSc (Master of Medical Sciences), PhD and fellowships like ICMR-SRF.

 

The Problem

Many institutions advertise their courses with eligibility criteria as Medical Diploma and consider only MBBS degree and in case of "equivalent" degrees, they often include degrees such as BDS, MVSc, M.Pharm, etc., while excluding AYUSH degrees such as BHMS, BAMS, BNYS etc. This exclusion significantly limits the higher education opportunities available to AYUSH graduates who wish to pursue programs like MD-PhD, DPhil, or PGDip in Clinical Subjects from recognized universities.

For instance, in our own country the eligibility criteria for programs like the ICMR SRF (https://epms.icmr.org.in/extramuralstaticweb/pdf/Fellowship/SRF_RA_Eligiblity_2021.pdf I3C BRIC-RCB PhD program (https://rcb.res.in/i3c/eligibility-selection.php and IIT Madras's PhD program for Doctors by DMST (https://research.iitm.ac.in/documents/Eligible-degree-MS-PhD-admission_final-draft.pdf specifically mention MBBS and equivalent degrees as an eligible degree , while enquiring found that AYUSH degrees are not considered equivalent.
Though few universities give equivalent weightage e.g. THSTI (https://thsti.in/ethsti/writereaddata/165044665568Advertisement_JNU.pdf IIT Bombay [https://www.bio.iitb.ac.in/academics/phd-program/ (but there also MS/MD of AYUSH equivalent to MBBS! )]

This is a major hurdle for AYUSH graduates who wish to pursue higher education opportunities e.g. PhD, DPhil, PGDip in Clinical Subjects from recognised universities. AYUSH graduates gets admission through the same NEET-UG exam, like MBBS graduates, also undergo a rigorous academic program with a syllabus comparable to MBBS for the same duration. Additionally, AYUSH programs often include additional subjects specific to their respective fields of medicine. Considering the implementation of the NEXT exam for AYUSH graduates, it seems illogical that AYUSH degrees are not given equal status in terms of equivalency.

 

The Solution

We petition for the implementation of a system for issuing equivalency certificates to AYUSH graduates. This certificate or process would recognize the equivalence of AYUSH degrees to MBBS for the purpose of applying for higher education courses.

 

Benefits

1. Fairness and Equality: AYUSH graduates deserve equal access to higher education opportunities.
2. Recognition of Qualifications: An equivalency certificate would acknowledge the qualifications and knowledge of AYUSH graduates.
3. Improved Career Prospects: Equivalency certificates would open doors for AYUSH graduates to pursue specialized fields and advance their careers.
   Signatories

We encourage all AYUSH graduates, students, faculty, and supporters of equal opportunity in education to sign this petition.

 

Take Action

• Share this petition with your network.
• Contact your local representatives and urge them to support the cause.
• Use social media to raise awareness about this issue (#AYUSHequivalency).
• Together, we can ensure that AYUSH degrees are recognized for their true value and that AYUSH graduates have the opportunity to pursue their academic goals.