UGC introduces Ayurveda-Biology as subject for NET

New Delhi: The University Grants Commission (UGC) has included Ayurveda-Biology as a subject for the first time in the National Eligibility Test (NET).

The decision was based on the expert committee’s recommendation in a meeting held earlier this year. UGC chairperson M Jagadesh Kumar said that the decision was made since Ayurveda has become popular as an alternative to allopathic medicine, contributing to the rapid expansion of this sector.

The Commission said that starting December 2024 students can opt for the subject. The UGC-NET exams, the qualifiers for PhDs as well as teaching jobs in colleges and universities, are held twice a year – in June and in December.

“Based on the expert committee's recommendations, the Commission, in its 581st meeting held on 25th June 2024, has decided to add ‘Ayurveda Biology’ as an additional subject from December 2024 onwards to the existing list of subjects of UGC NET,” a notification issued by the UGC on Tuesday, stated.

UGC chairperson M Jagadesh Kumar said that with people becoming more aware of the benefits of natural and holistic healthcare, Ayurveda has become popular as an alternative to allopathic medicine. “Ayurveda is increasingly being integrated with modern healthcare systems. Therefore, we must understand Ayurveda from the perspective of contemporary science. Ayurveda-Biology is a discipline that aims to study India’s vast expanse of traditional knowledge in the field of Āyurvedic and related sciences from the perspective of mainstream contemporary studies in Biological sciences,” Kumsar said.

He added that the introduction of Ayurveda-Biology as a paper in UGC-NET will encourage aspiring students to the Sanskrit texts of Ayurveda. “This will help integrate the deep knowledge contained in these texts to create a holistic and sustainable model for study and research in contemporary biological sciences. After they complete their PhD program in Ayurveda-Biology, they will have the opportunity to join Universities to research and train future generations of students,” he added.

The Ayurveda-Biology paper, apart from the history, development and fundamental principles of Ayurveda, will also test students on ‘Genetics’, ‘Ayurgenomics’, ‘Cell and Molecular Biology’, in addition to ‘Physiology, Biochemistry and Nanotechnology’, ‘Disease Biology’, ‘Microbiology and Immunology’, ‘Biodiversity and Environmental Health’, ‘IPR and Entrepreneurship’. It will also test students on Ayurvedic concepts like ‘Sharira Rachna and Kriya’, ‘Padartha Vijnana and Dravya Vijnana’, ‘Rasa Shastra, Bheshajya Kalpana and Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia’.