BIS Holds National Sessions to Strengthen Quality Standards for AYUSH Systems

Belagavi: The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has organised national-level programmes in Karnataka and Ladakh to promote quality standards, patient safety and wider acceptance of India’s traditional systems of medicine.

The BIS AYUSH Department conducted two initiatives focusing on standardisation in Ayurveda, Yoga and Sowa-Rigpa, bringing together more than 600 researchers, practitioners, industry representatives and academic leaders. The initiatives aim to strengthen quality assurance, build consumer confidence and support the international recognition of AYUSH systems.

The PRAGATI 2026 national seminar on standardisation in Ayurveda and Yoga was held in Belagavi in association with KLE Shri BMK Ayurveda Mahavidyalaya and the KLE Academy of Higher Education and Research. Participants discussed the role of Indian Standards in improving clinical practices, education, research and manufacturing.

BIS Scientist-E and Head of AYUSH Shrishti Dixit highlighted the organisation’s efforts to formulate Indian Standards and expand India’s participation in international standardisation through the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).

Discussions focused on uniform terminology, educational benchmarks and clinical guidelines for Ayurveda and Yoga. Industry representatives, including Dr. Bindu Indira of Himalaya Wellness Company and Dr. Srinivas Patil of the Karnataka AYUSH Drugs Manufacturers Association, discussed how BIS certification could improve market access and consumer trust.

An interactive session led by Prof. Kashinath Samagandi of the All India Institute of Ayurveda and Vaidya Jayant Deopujari, chairperson of the BIS Ayurveda Sectional Committee, examined practical challenges in implementing standards across education, research, manufacturing and clinical practice.

Separately, BIS organised a brainstorming session alongside the fifth meeting of its Sowa-Rigpa Sectional Committee at the National Institute of Sowa-Rigpa in Leh, Ladakh. The discussions focused on quality and safety requirements for medicinal herbs, raw materials and finished formulations, including testing parameters, laboratory requirements, pharmacopoeial standards and quality assurance.

Participants also discussed ways to safeguard indigenous knowledge through intellectual property mechanisms such as patents, trademarks and geographical indications.

The initiatives received support from institutions including the All India Institute of Ayurveda, the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine, the Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine and the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences.

BIS said it would continue engaging with industry and academia and facilitate online submission of proposals for new standards. The organisation aims to strengthen quality and conformity assessment across traditional Indian systems of medicine.