1. Short title, extent and commencement.—(1) This Act may be called the Indian Medicine Central
Council Act, 1970.
(2) It extends to the whole of India.
(3) It shall come into force in a State on such date1
as the Central Government may, by notification in
the Official Gazette, appoint in this behalf for such State, and different dates may be appointed for
different States and for different provisions of this Act.
2. Definitions.—(1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,—
(a) “approved institution” means a teaching institution, health centre or hospital recognised by a
University or Board as an institution in which a person may undergo the training, if any, required by
his course of study before the award of any medical qualification to him;
(b) “Board” means a Board, Council, Examining Body or Faculty of Indian Medicine (by
whatever name called) constituted by the State Government under any law for the time being in force
regulating the award of medical qualifications in, and registration of practitioners of, Indian medicine;
(c) “Central Council” means the Central Council of Indian Medicine constituted under section 3;
(d) “Central Register of Indian Medicine” means the register maintained by the Central Council
under this Act;
(e) “Indian medicine” means the system of Indian medicine commonly known as Ashtang
Ayurveda, Siddha 2
[or Unani Tibb] whether supplemented or not by such modern advances as the
Central Council may declare by notification from time to time;
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[(ea) “medical college” means a college of Indian medicine, whether known as such or by any
other name, in which a person may undergo a course of study or training including any post-graduate
course of study or training which will qualify him for the award of a recognised medical
qualification;]
(f) “medical institution” means any institution within or without India which grants degrees,
diplomas or licences in Indian medicine;
(g) “prescribed” means prescribed by regulations;
(h) “recognised medical qualification” means any of the medical qualifications, including postgraduate medical qualification, of Indian medicine included in the Second, Third or Fourth Schedule;
(i) “regulation” means a regulation made under section 36;
1. 15th August, 1971,vide notification No. S.O. 2994, dated 10th August, 1971, in respect of ss. 2, 13, 32 to 36 (both inclusive) in
the whole of India and ss. 3, 5 to 12 (both inclusive) and 14 to 16 (both inclusive) in all the States (except the State of
Nagaland) and the Union territory of Delhi, see Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, sec. 3(ii).
1st October, 1974, videnotification No. S.O. 584(E), dated the 1st October, 1974, in respect of ss. 18 to 22 (both inclusive), see
Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, sec. 3(ii),
1st October, 1976, vide notification No. S.O. 626(E), dated the 10th September, 1976, in respect of ss. 17 and 23 to 31(both
inclusive),see Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, sec. 3(ii),
2. The words in brackets shall stand substituted (date to be notified) by Act 43 of 2010, s. 2, to read as “, Unani, Tibb or
Sowa-Rigpa”.
3. Ins. by Act 58 of 2003, s. 2 (w.e.f. 7-11-2003).
* Subject to verification and confirmation by the administrative ministry.
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(j) “State Register of Indian Medicine” means a register or registers maintained under any law for
the time being in force in any State regulating the registration of practitioners of Indian medicine;
(k) “University” means any University in India established by law and having a Faculty of Indian
Medicine and includes a University in India established by law in which instruction, teaching,
training or research in Indian medicine is provided.
(2) Any reference in this Act to a law which is not in force in the State of Jammu and Kashmir shall,
in relation to that State, be construed as a reference to the corresponding law, if any, in force in that State.