The Times of India reported on October 12, 2026, that the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) has not recognised 61 Ayurveda medical colleges in India, including 12 in Madhya Pradesh, for the academic session of 2026–27. The action concerns alleged violations of regulations governing Ayurveda medical education and related clinical facilities.
Implications of NCISM’s Action
NCISM is a statutory body that regulates medical education and professional standards in Indian systems of medicine, including Ayurveda. Medical institutions are required to undergo periodic and transparent assessments and maintain standards for education and healthcare services.
For the academic year 2026–27, NCISM has released separate official lists of Ayurveda colleges that have been permitted to function, colleges that have not been granted permission, colleges issued Letters of Permission (LoP), and colleges whose permission has been withdrawn. The regulator states that the lists are subject to change and are dated September 10, 2026.
The Times of India report said that information about the 61 affected colleges was provided by Dr Rakesh Pandey, national spokesperson of the Ayush Medical Association. According to the report, 12 colleges in Madhya Pradesh are among the affected institutions.
Reasons Given for Regulatory Action
The reported deficiencies concern several areas directly linked to the quality and functioning of Ayurveda medical colleges and their teaching hospitals.
The issues raised in The Times of India report include:
- Alleged non-compliance with NCISM norms.
- Some institutions reportedly not permitting inspections.
- Gaps in inpatient department (IPD) and outpatient department (OPD) services.
- Lack of or inadequacies in teaching personnel.
- Irregularities concerning teaching and non-teaching staff.
- Inconsistencies in the functioning of colleges and their associated hospitals.
These issues are significant because Ayurveda medical education combines classroom-based learning with clinical and practical training. NCISM’s regulatory framework establishes minimum standards for undergraduate Ayurveda colleges and their attached teaching hospitals.
12 Ayurveda Colleges in Madhya Pradesh Affected
Of the 61 colleges mentioned in The Times of India report, 12 are from Madhya Pradesh.
The official NCISM list provides institution-level details of colleges denied permission for the 2026–27 academic year. As of September 10, 2026, the list includes several institutions in Madhya Pradesh, with the regulator specifying the nature of the permission decision and, in some cases, the reason for denial.
The institutions mentioned include:
- Rajiv Gandhi Ayurvedic College & Hospital, Bhopal.
- Veenavadini Ayurved College & Hospital, Bhopal.
- Om Ayurvedic Medical College & Hospital, Betul.
- Parashar Ayurvedic Medical College & Hospital, Bhopal.
- Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma Ayurved College, Bhopal.
- Department of Ayurveda and Community, IES University, Bhopal.
- School of Ayurveda & Siddha Studies, Sehore.
Different regulatory grounds are outlined in the individual NCISM entries. For example, some institutions are listed as having annual permission denied for non-compliance with the inspection process, while others have been denied permission under applicable provisions of the NCISM Act and regulations.
Recognition Withheld and Permission Withdrawn Are Different
The terminology used in regulatory decisions is important for students and institutions.
The Times of India report uses the general description that recognition was not granted to 61 colleges. However, NCISM’s official records for 2026–27 distinguish between denied permission, Letters of Permission (LoP), and withdrawal of permission.
For example, NCISM’s separate withdrawal list states that Amaltas Institute of Ayurveda, Madhya Pradesh, has had its permission withdrawn for an intake capacity of 100 BAMS seats for the 2026–27 academic session.
Denial of annual permission, denial of permission under a specific regulatory provision, and withdrawal of previously granted permission are not necessarily interchangeable regulatory actions.
For publication and admission-related decisions, the latest NCISM status of each institution should therefore be checked.
What the Action Could Mean for Students
The regulatory status of an Ayurveda college is important for students seeking admission to BAMS and other recognised programmes.
Prospective students should not select an institution for the 2026–27 academic year solely on the basis of its previous recognition status, website, or promotional material. They should check the latest NCISM listings and relevant government admission-counselling information to confirm that the college and programme have the necessary permission.
Links to the lists of permitted, denied, LoP, and withdrawn institutions are available on NCISM’s official 2026–27 Ayurveda college page. Since the regulator warns that these lists may be updated, students should consult the latest available version before making admission decisions.
Implications for Ayurvedic Education
The regulatory action underscores the importance of complying with prescribed standards in Ayurveda medical colleges and their affiliated teaching hospitals.
NCISM’s stated objectives include improving access to quality and affordable medical education in Ayurveda and other Indian systems of medicine, ensuring the availability of appropriately trained professionals, and conducting periodic and transparent assessments of medical institutions.
The regulatory framework includes standards for infrastructure, faculty, education, and attached teaching hospitals. These requirements are intended to support the academic and clinical environments in which students are trained.
The reported action therefore has implications beyond individual institutions. It highlights the role of regulatory assessment in maintaining minimum standards of Ayurveda education.
What Students and Applicants Must Check
Students seeking admission to an Ayurveda college for the 2026–27 academic session should check the following:
- Whether the college appears on NCISM’s latest list of permitted Ayurveda colleges.
- Whether the institution appears on the list of colleges denied permission or the list of colleges whose permission has been withdrawn.
- The approved intake capacity of the relevant programme.
- Whether the specific course or programme has the necessary permission for the academic session.
- The latest information issued by the relevant government admission-counselling authority.
- Any subsequent updates issued by NCISM after the September 10 status lists.
Students should also understand the difference between a college’s general institutional status and permission for a particular course, intake capacity, or academic session.
Why This Matters
Recognition and approval decisions are important components of the regulatory framework for medical education. They help the regulator assess whether institutions meet prescribed requirements before students commence or continue their studies during a particular academic session.
Undergraduate Ayurveda education combines theoretical knowledge with clinical practice. Deficiencies in teaching staff, hospital facilities, inspection compliance, or institutional functioning can affect the quality of the educational environment.
Similarly, denial or withdrawal of permission should not automatically be interpreted as a permanent closure of an institution. The latest NCISM order or listing should be checked to establish the exact regulatory status of each college and whether any subsequent corrective action or revised permission has been issued.
What Happens Next?
“I hope the final decisions on the recognition status of Ayurveda colleges in Madhya Pradesh and other states are taken before the admission counselling conducted by the government ends,” Dr Rakesh Pandey was quoted as saying in The Times of India report.
NCISM’s website currently provides institution-level lists for the 2026–27 academic year and states that the lists are subject to updates.
Students, colleges, and other stakeholders should therefore monitor subsequent NCISM updates rather than assuming that a previously published status is necessarily definitive.
Summary
NCISM’s regulatory action has brought the status of several Ayurveda medical colleges under scrutiny for the 2026–27 academic session. The Times of India reported that 61 colleges across India were affected, including 12 in Madhya Pradesh, citing alleged deficiencies in inspections, clinical services, staffing, and institutional compliance.
NCISM’s official records provide institution-level information through separate lists of permitted, denied, LoP, and withdrawn colleges.
Students and prospective applicants should check the latest official status of the individual college and programme before making admission decisions.
Editorial Note: This article uses The Times of India report as the primary source for the reported figure of 61 affected colleges and refers to NCISM’s official 2026–27 college-status records for regulatory context. NCISM maintains separate lists of denied, permitted, LoP, and withdrawn colleges. Readers should consult the latest NCISM listings and the relevant counselling authority for current admission-related information.
