State PCS
AYUSH is an acronym for:
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Answer: Option A — Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy
Detailed Solution
AYUSH stands for Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy, the traditional and alternative systems of medicine recognised in India. Sowa-Rigpa was later added to the systems covered by the Ministry.
The systems:
Ayurveda: India's ancient system of medicine, based on balancing three "doshas" (vata, pitta and kapha). Its classical texts are the "Charaka Samhita" and the "Sushruta Samhita".
Yoga and Naturopathy: yoga uses postures (asanas), breathing (pranayama) and meditation; naturopathy uses natural methods such as diet, water, mud and fasting.
Unani: a system that came from Greece (the name comes from "Yunan", Greece) through Arab and Persian physicians; based on the four "humours". It came to India in the medieval period. Hakim Ajmal Khan was a famous Unani physician.
Siddha: one of the oldest systems of medicine, practised mainly in Tamil Nadu; it is traditionally traced to the "Siddhars", especially Agastya.
Homoeopathy: developed by Samuel Hahnemann in Germany in 1796, based on the principle of "like cures like".
Sowa-Rigpa: the traditional Tibetan system of medicine, practised in the Himalayan regions such as Ladakh, Sikkim and Himachal Pradesh; recognised in 2010.
History of the Ministry:
- The Department of Indian Systems of Medicine and Homoeopathy (ISM&H) was created in March 1995.
- It was renamed the Department of AYUSH in November 2003.
- It became a separate Ministry of AYUSH on 9 November 2014.
Regulation:
- National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM), 2020 Act: for Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha and Sowa-Rigpa.
- National Commission for Homoeopathy (NCH), 2020 Act.
Related initiatives and days:
- International Day of Yoga: 21 June (since 2015).
- National Ayurveda Day: 23 September (fixed date from 2025).
- Unani Day: 11 February (birth anniversary of Hakim Ajmal Khan).
- Siddha Day: observed on the birth star of Agastya.
- World Homoeopathy Day: 10 April.
- The "AYUSH Visa" (2023) allows foreigners to come to India for traditional treatments.
- The WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine is in Jamnagar, Gujarat.
Why not the other options?
- ✗"Herbal medicine" is not one of the letters of AYUSH.
- ✗"Allopathy" is modern medicine, not part of AYUSH.
- ✗"Shiatsu and Holistic healing" are not part of AYUSH.
Quick tip
Remember: AYUSH = Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Homoeopathy (Sowa-Rigpa also covered); Ministry of AYUSH = 9 November 2014; Unani Day = 11 February; Yoga Day = 21 June; WHO traditional medicine centre = Jamnagar.
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