Education
CCRAS’s ‘Text Book of Biostatistics: Basics to Advances’ promises to be an invaluable resource for the development of the next generation of Ayurveda scholars.
In a significant stride towards strengthening scientific rigour within Ayurvedic education, the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), under the Ministry of Ayush, Government of India, has released a comprehensive academic textbook titled Text Book of Biostatistics: Basics to Advances. This publication has been approved by the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) and is aligned with the newly revised curriculum for undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.
The new textbook is part of the Council’s educational series titled Ayurvigyan–Prayogiki–Prayāmālā, which aims to provide structured, modern academic resources for Ayurveda students, researchers, and institutions.
Bridging Tradition with Science
The text book has been prepared under the editorial guidance of Dr B S Prasad, former Vice Chancellor of Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, Bengaluru. A well-respected academician in Ayurveda and modern healthcare education, Dr Prasad and his team have ensured that the book balances theoretical precision with practical applications tailored specifically to Ayurvedic research settings.
In his editorial note, Dr Prasad underscores the importance of statistical literacy in a time when Ayurveda is increasingly expected to stand up to rigorous scientific evaluation. He highlights that biostatistics is no longer a peripheral subject but a core component that enables students and practitioners to design meaningful studies, analyse clinical data, and contribute effectively to the growing field of integrative medicine.
A Tool for Modern Ayurvedic Scholars
The Text Book of Biostatistics: Basics to Advances offers a wide-ranging curriculum, catering to beginners as well as advanced learners. The book covers:
- Data types, data collection, and sampling methods
- Measures of central tendency and dispersion
- Probability theory, statistical distributions, and hypothesis testing
- Correlation and regression analysis
- Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and non-parametric testing
- Sample size estimation and research design
- Introduction to statistical software
- Ethical data reporting and scientific writing
What distinguishes this text book is its incorporation of real-world examples drawn from Ayurvedic studies and community health projects. Each chapter is supplemented with diagrams, tables, case studies, and exercises that help contextualize statistical principles within traditional medicine frameworks.
The text book will now serve as the official reference material for biostatistics courses in Ayurveda institutions across India. It is particularly relevant for students involved in thesis work, clinical trials, and health surveys, offering the tools to bridge traditional knowledge with scientific inquiry.
Professor (Vaidya) Rabinarayan Acharya, Director General of CCRAS, emphasized that the Council is actively collaborating research activities with reputed institutions such as AIIMS, NIMHANS, CSIR, DRDO, and IITs. He stated that publications like this one are critical in building a culture of evidence within Ayurvedic systems.
With the release of Text Book of Biostatistics: Basics to Advances, CCRAS has provided a critical building block for the next generation of Ayurveda scholars—one that will enable them to validate traditional knowledge, engage in interdisciplinary research, and contribute confidently to the global discourse on holistic health.
Quotes
This is high-quality academic publishing. I commend the Council for its wide-ranging contributions, particularly during the pandemic and in projects like ‘Utkarsh,’ which positively impacted over five lakh adolescent girls suffering from anaemia.
– Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary, Ministry of Ayush, Government of India
Equipping our research scholars and students with advanced knowledge on biostatistics is important to align them with scientific models of research while preserving Ayurveda’s holistic world view.
– Prof. Shrinivasa Varakhedi, Vice-Chancellor, Central Sanskrit University
The Text Book of Biostatistics: Basics to Advances is not just a curriculum update—it is a cultural shift. As global demand rises for integrative healthcare models, India must equip its Ayurveda professionals with skills in research methodology and data analysis. This publication signals a readiness to participate meaningfully in international research landscapes, clinical trials, and health policy planning.
- Dr Bhushan Patwardhan, National Research Professor–Ayush
