BIS Organises Nationwide Sessions to Strengthen AYUSH Quality Standards and Global Recognition

Ø Over 600 experts, practitioners and industry leaders participate to advance standardization, safety, patient care, and international acceptance in the fields of AYURVEDA, YOGA, and SOWA-RIGPA

· The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) organised two national initiatives involving over 600 experts, practitioners, researchers and industry leaders to promote standardisation in Ayurveda, Yoga and Sowa-Rigpa.

· PRAGATI 2026, held in Belagavi, Karnataka, focused on strengthening standards in Ayurveda and Yoga to improve quality assurance, patient safety, research credibility and regulatory practices.

· Experts emphasised uniform terminology, educational benchmarks and clinical guidelines for standardised practices in Ayurveda and Yoga.

· Industry representatives highlighted the role of BIS certification in improving consumer confidence, supporting start-ups and manufacturers, and expanding market access.

· In Leh, Ladakh, BIS held a brainstorming session alongside the 5th Sowa-Rigpa Sectional Committee meeting to advance standardisation in traditional medicine.

· Discussions focused on testing and quality assurance of medicinal herbs, raw materials and finished formulations, including safety, efficacy, laboratory requirements and pharmacopoeial standards.

· Participants also discussed protecting indigenous traditional knowledge through intellectual property rights, including patents, trademarks and geographical indications.

· The initiatives received support from institutions including the All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), NCISM, CCRAS and CCRUM.

· BIS reaffirmed its commitment to working with industry and academia and facilitating online submission of new standardisation proposals.

· The initiative aims to strengthen public trust, improve the quality and safety of traditional healthcare systems, and enhance the international recognition of India's AYUSH sector.

[ABS News Service/21.10.2026]

In a major push towards standardisation in India’s traditional systems of medicine, the AYUSH Department of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) conducted two national events on standardization in Ayurveda, Yoga, and Sowa-Rigpa. By bridging traditional heritage with scientific quality control, BIS aims to boost consumer trust, and drive international recognition for the AYUSH sector. The nationwide campaign brought together over 600 key stakeholders including top researchers, industry pioneers, academic leaders, and practitioner:

PRAGATI 2026: National Seminar on Standardization in Ayurveda and Yoga

Hosted in Belagavi, Karnataka by BIS in association with KLE Shri BMK Ayurveda Mahavidyalaya and the KLE Academy of Higher Education & Research, PRAGATI 2026 brought together 600 participants to deliberate the role of Indian Standards in strengthening the Ayurveda and Yoga sectors. Ms. Shrishti Dixit, Scientist-E & Head (AYUSH), BIS, highlighted BIS’s work in formulating Indian Standards and expanding India's role in global standardization via ISO. During the seminar, the dignitaries emphasized that well-defined standards are vital for quality assurance, patient safety, credible research, and effective regulation. Key themes addressed during the seminar included:

· Standardized Practice & Education: Highlighting the need for uniform terminology, educational benchmarks, and clinical guidelines in Yoga and Ayurveda.

· Industry & Start-up Support: Guidance from industry leaders including Dr. Bindu Indira (Himalaya Wellness Company) and Dr. Srinivas Patil (Karnataka AYUSH Drugs Manufacturers Association) on how adopting BIS certification accelerates market access and builds consumer trust.

· Interactive Open House: Expert panel discussions led by Prof. (Dr.) Kashinath Samagandi (All India Institute of Ayurveda) and Vaidya Jayant Deopujari (Chairperson, Ayurveda Sectional Committee, BIS) interacyed with the delgates on on practical issues in adopting standards across education, research, manufacturing and clinical practice, and discussed the gaps that need to be addressed for wider implementation.

ADVANCING SOWA-RIGPA STANDARDIZATION IN LEH, LADAKH

BIS convened a Brainstorming Session alongside its 5th Sowa-Rigpa Sectional Committee meeting at the National Institute of Sowa-Rigpa (NISR) in Leh (UT of Ladakh). Delegates included Padma Shree Dr. Padma Gurmet (Chairperson of the BIS Sowa-Rigpa Sectional Committee and Founding Director of NISR), Dr. Arjun Singh (Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences), and Dr. Usama Akram (Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine) and Dr Mahe Alam from BIS. Deliberations focussed on -

· Raw Material Quality & Safety: Establishing rigorous testing parameters for single herbs, raw materials, and finished formulations along with drug quality, safety and efficacy, laboratory and analytical requirements, pharmacopoeial standards and quality assurance.

· IPR & Traditional Knowledge: Safeguarding indigenous knowledge through patents, trademarks, and geographical indications for quality assessment

The initiatives were supported by premier national institutions, including the All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM), Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine (CCRUM), and Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS). BIS reaffirmed its commitment to continuously engage with industry and academia, facilitating simple online submission portals for new standardization proposals.

Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) is the National Standard Body of India, responsible for the harmonious development of the activities of standardization, and conformity assessment. Through its dedicated Ayush Department, BIS is shaping quality standards that enable traditional Indian systems of medicine to achieve global excellence.