3. Constitution of National Commission for Indian System of Medicine.—(1) The Central
Government shall, by notification, constitute a Commission, to be known as the National Commission for
Indian System of Medicine, to exercise the powers conferred upon, and to perform the functions assigned
to it, under this Act.
(2) The Commission shall be a body corporate by the name aforesaid, having perpetual succession
and a common seal, with power, subject to the provisions of this Act, to acquire, hold and dispose of
property, both movable and immovable, and to contract, and shall, by the said name, sue or be sued.
(3) The head office of the Commission shall be at New Delhi.
4. Composition of Commission.—(1) The Commission shall consist of the following persons,
namely:––
(a) a Chairperson;
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(b) fifteen ex officio Members; and
(c) twenty-three part-time Members.
(2) The Chairperson shall be a person of outstanding ability, proven administrative capacity and
integrity, possessing a postgraduate degree in any of the disciplines of Indian System of Medicine from a
recognised University and having experience of not less than twenty years in any field of Indian System
of Medicine, out of which at least ten years shall be as a leader in the area of healthcare delivery, growth
and development of Indian System of Medicine or its education.
(3) The following persons shall be appointed by the Central Government as ex officio Members of the
Commission, namely:—
(a) the President of the Board of Ayurveda;
(b) the President of the Board of Unani, Siddha and Sowa-Rigpa;
(c) the President of the Medical Assessment and Rating Board for Indian System of Medicine;
(d) the President of the Board of Ethics and Registration for Indian System of Medicine;
(e) Advisor (Ayurveda) or Joint Secretary to the Government of India in-charge of Ayurveda and
Advisor (Unani) or Joint Secretary to the Government of India in-charge of Unani, in the Ministry of
AYUSH;
(f) the Director, All India Institute of Ayurveda, New Delhi;
(g) the Director General, Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences, New Delhi;
(h) the Director General, Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine, New Delhi;
(i) the Director General, Central Council for Research in Siddha, Chennai;
(j) the Director, National Institute of Siddha, Chennai;
(k) the Director, National Institute of Unani, Bengaluru;
(l) the Director, North Eastern Institute on Ayurveda and Homoeopathy, Shillong;
(m) the Director, Institute of Post Graduate Teaching and Research in Ayurveda, Jamnagar; and
(n) the Director, National Institute of Ayurveda, Jaipur.
(4) The following persons shall be appointed by the Central Government as part-time Members of the
Commission, namely:—
(a) four Members to be appointed from amongst persons of ability, integrity and standing, who
have special knowledge and professional experience in any of the disciplines of Indian System of
Medicine, Sanskrit, Urdu, Tamil, management, law, health research, science and technology and
economics;
(b) ten Members to be appointed on rotational basis from amongst the nominees of the States and
Union territories in the Advisory Council for Indian System of Medicine for a term of two years in
such manner as may be prescribed;
(c) six members from Ayurveda, one member each from Siddha, Unani and Sowa-Rigpa, to be
appointed from amongst the nominees of the States and Union territories, under clause (d) of
sub-section (2) of section 11, in the Advisory Council for Indian System of Medicine, for a term of
two years in such manner as may be prescribed:
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Provided that no Member shall either himself or through any of his family members, directly or
indirectly, own or be associated with or have any dealings with the managing body of a private or nongovernment medical institution which is regulated under this Act.
Explanation.––For the purpose of this section and section 19, the term “leader” means the Head of a
Department or the Head of an Organisation.
5. Search Committee for appointment of Chairperson and Members.—(1) The Central
Government shall appoint the Chairperson, referred to in section 4 and the President of the Autonomous
Boards referred to in section 20 on the recommendation of a Search Committee consisting of—
(a) the Cabinet Secretary—Chairperson;
(b) two experts, possessing outstanding qualifications and experience of not less than twenty-five
years in any of the fields of Indian System of Medicine, to be nominated by the Central
Government—Members;
(c) one expert, from amongst the Members referred to in clause (c) of sub-section (4) of section 4,
to be nominated by the Central Government in such manner as may be prescribed—Member;
(d) one person, possessing outstanding qualifications and experience of not less than twenty-five
years in the field of Sanskrit, Urdu, Tamil, health research, management, law, economics or science
and technology, to be nominated by the Central Government—Member;
(e) the Secretary to the Government of India in charge of the Ministry of AYUSH, to be the
Convenor—Member:
Provided that for selection of part-time Members of the Commission referred to in clause (a) of subsection (4) of section 4, the Secretary referred to in section 8 and other Members of the Autonomous
Boards referred to in section 20, the Search Committee shall consist of Members specified in the clauses
(b) to (d) and Joint Secretary to the Government of India in the Ministry of AYUSH as ConvenorMember and chaired by Secretary to the Government of India in charge of the Ministry of AYUSH.
(2) The Central Government shall, within one month from the date of occurrence of any vacancy,
including by reason of death, resignation or removal of the Chairperson or a Member, or within three
months before the end of tenure of the Chairperson or Member, make a reference to the Search
Committee for filling up of the vacancy.
(3) The Search Committee shall recommend a panel of at least three names for every vacancy referred
to it.
(4) Before recommending any person for appointment as the Chairperson or a Member of the
Commission, the Search Committee shall satisfy itself that such person does not have any financial or
other interest which is likely to affect prejudicially his functions as such Chairperson or Member.
(5) No appointment of the Chairperson or Member shall be invalid merely by reason of any vacancy
or absence of a Member in the Search Committee.
(6) Subject to the provisions of sub-sections (2) to (5), the Search Committee may regulate its own
procedure.
6. Term of office and conditions of service of Chairperson and Members.––(1) The Chairperson
and Members (other than ex officio Members) and Members appointed under clauses (b) and (c) of
sub- section (4) of section 4 shall hold office for a term not exceeding four years and shall not be eligible
for any extension or re-appointment:
Provided that such person shall cease to hold office after attaining the age of seventy years.
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(2) The term of office of an ex officio Member shall continue as long as he holds the office by virtue
of which he is such Member.
(3) Where a Member, other than an ex officio Member, is absent from three consecutive ordinary
meetings of the Commission and the cause of such absence is not attributable to any valid reason in the
opinion of the Commission, such Member shall be deemed to have vacated the seat.
(4) The salary and allowances payable to and other terms and conditions of service of the Chairperson
and Member, other than an ex officio Member, shall be such as may be prescribed.
(5) The Chairperson or a Member may,––
(a) relinquish his office by giving in writing a notice of not less than three months to the Central
Government; or
(b) be removed from his office in accordance with the provisions of section 7:
Provided that such person may be relieved from duties earlier than three months or allowed to
continue beyond three months until a successor is appointed, if the Central Government so decides.
(6) The Chairperson and every Member of the Commission shall make declaration of his assets and
liabilities at the time of entering upon his office and at the time of demitting his office and also declare his
professional and commercial engagement or involvement, in such form and manner as may be prescribed,
and such declaration shall be published on the website of the Commission.
(7) The Chairperson or a Member, ceasing to hold office as such, shall not accept, for a period of two
years from the date of demitting such office, any employment, in any capacity, including as a consultant
or an expert, in any private Medical institution of Indian System of Medicine or, whose matter has been
dealt with by such Chairperson or Member, directly or indirectly:
Provided that nothing contained herein shall be construed as preventing such person from accepting
an employment in a body or institution including Medical institution of Indian System of Medicine,
controlled or maintained by the Central Government or a State Government.
(8) Nothing in sub-section (7) shall prevent the Central Government from permitting the Chairperson
or a Member to accept any employment in any capacity, including as a consultant or an expert, in any
private Medical institution of Indian System of Medicine, whose matter has been dealt with by such
Chairperson or Member.
7. Removal of Chairperson and Members of Commission.––(1) The Central Government may, by
order, remove from office, the Chairperson or any other Member, who—
(a) has been adjudged an insolvent; or
(b) has been convicted of an offence which, in the opinion of the Central Government, involves
moral turpitude; or
(c) has become physically or mentally incapable of acting as the Chairperson or a Member; or
(d) is of unsound mind and stands so declared by a competent court; or
(e) has acquired such financial or other interest as is likely to affect prejudicially his functions as
a Member; or
(f) has so abused his position as to render his continuance in office prejudicial to public interest.
(2) No Member shall be removed under clauses (e) and (f) of sub-section (1) unless he has been
given a reasonable opportunity of being heard in the matter.
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8. Appointment of Secretary, experts, professionals, officers and other employees of
Commission.––(1) There shall be a Secretariat for the Commission to be headed by a Secretary, to be
appointed by the Central Government in accordance with the provisions of section 5.
(2) The Secretary of the Commission shall be a person of proven administrative capacity and
integrity, possessing such qualifications and experience as may be prescribed.
(3) The Secretary shall be appointed by the Central Government for a term of four years and he shall
not be eligible for any extension or re-appointment.
(4) The Secretary shall discharge such functions of the Commission as are assigned to him by the
Commission and as may be specified by regulations made under this Act.
(5) The Commission may appoint such officers and other employees, as it considers necessary,
against the posts created by the Central Government for the efficient discharge of its functions under this
Act.
(6) The salaries and allowances payable to, and other terms and conditions of service of the Secretary,
officers and other employees of the Commission shall be such as may be prescribed.
(7) The Commission may engage, in accordance with the procedure specified by regulations, such
number of experts and professionals of integrity and outstanding ability, who have special knowledge of
Indian System of Medicine, and experience in fields including medical education in Indian System of
Medicine, public health, management, economics, accreditation, patient advocacy, health research,
science and technology, administration, finance, accounts or law as it deems necessary, to assist the
Commission in the discharge of its functions under this Act.
9. Meetings of Commission.––(1) The Commission shall meet at least once every quarter at such
time and place as may be appointed by the Chairperson.
(2) The Chairperson shall preside at the meeting of the Commission and if, for any reason, the
Chairperson is unable to attend a meeting of the Commission, any Member being the President of the
Autonomous Boards, nominated by the Chairperson shall preside at the meeting.
(3) Unless the procedure to be followed at the meetings of the Commission is otherwise provided by
regulations, one-half of the total number of Members of the Commission including the Chairperson shall
constitute the quorum and all decisions of the Commission shall be taken by a majority of the members,
present and voting and in the event of equality of votes, the Chairperson or in his absence, the President
of the Autonomous Board nominated under sub-section (2), shall have the casting vote.
(4) The general superintendence, direction and control of the administration of the Commission shall
vest in the Chairperson.
(5) No act or proceeding of the Commission shall be invalid merely by reason of—
(a) any vacancy in, or any defect in the constitution of, the Commission; or
(b) any defect in the appointment of a person acting as a Chairperson or as a Member.
(6) A person who is aggrieved by any decision of the Commission, except the decision rendered
under sub-section (4) of section 31, may prefer an appeal to the Central Government against such decision
within fifteen days of the communication of such decision.
10. Power and functions of Commission.––(1) The Commission shall perform the following
functions, namely:—
(a) lay down policies for maintaining a high quality and high standards in education of Indian
System of Medicine and make necessary regulations in this behalf;
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(b) lay down policies for regulating medical institutions, medical researches and medical
professionals and make necessary regulations in this behalf;
(c) assess the requirements in healthcare, including human resources for health and healthcare
infrastructure and develop a road map for meeting such requirements;
(d) frame guidelines and lay down policies by making such regulations as may be necessary for
the proper functioning of the Commission, the Autonomous Boards and the State Medical Councils of
Indian System of Medicine;
(e) ensure coordination among the Autonomous Boards;
(f) take such measures, as may be necessary, to ensure compliance by the State Medical Councils
of Indian System of Medicine of the guidelines framed and regulations made under this Act for their
effective functioning under this Act;
(g) exercise appellate jurisdiction with respect to decisions of the Autonomous Boards;
(h) ensure observance of professional ethics in Medical profession and to promote ethical conduct
during the provision of care by medical practitioners;
(i) frame guidelines for determination of fees and all other charges in respect of fifty per cent. of
seats in private medical institutions and deemed to be Universities which are governed under the
provisions of this Act;
(j) exercise such other powers and perform such other functions as may be prescribed.
(2) All orders and decisions of the Commission shall be authenticated by signature of the Secretary
and the Commission may delegate such of its powers on administrative and financial matters, as it deems
fit, to the Secretary.
(3) The Commission may constitute sub-committees and delegate such of its powers to them as may
be necessary to enable them to accomplish specific tasks.