Doctor or Not? The Ayurvedic Medicine Debate Unpacked

 

Who Gets to Call Themselves a Doctor? The Curious Case of Ayurveda, Antibiotics & Ancient Pride

🚨 The Viral X-Fight: A Doctor vs. A Grandmaster

A few weeks ago, a Twitter (oops, we mean X) spat between a hepatologist and a chess Grandmaster took the internet by storm. It wasn’t about chess or livers. It was about Ayurveda.

The debate?
“Can practitioners of Ayurveda or other traditional Indian medicine systems call themselves ‘doctors’?”

What looked like a simple question turned into a heated national discussion—one that sits at the intersection of medicine, law, politics, culture, and even Hindu pride.

Let’s break it down.

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🩺 Is Ayurveda Medicine or Myth?

India has a rich medical heritage. Systems like Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, and others have been practiced for centuries. These systems are based on concepts like doshas, prakriti, vata-pitta-kapha, and the balance of spiritual energy. Think of it like a traditional blend of philosophy, wellness, and herbs.

On the other hand, modern medicine (aka "allopathy") relies on germ theory, evidence-based studies, and randomized control trials.

Imagine this:
In one classroom, you’re studying cell physiology and antibiotics. In the next, you’re learning about paramatma and jivatma.

Now, can a student trained in both prescribe the same medicine? Should they be allowed to perform surgeries? This is where the confusion—and the conflict—begins.

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📜 A History of Conflicting Committees

This debate didn’t start on X. It started way back in 1946.

• Bhore Committee (1946): Recommended that India adopt modern scientific medicine, like other countries were doing. Traditional systems? It suggested limiting their role in public healthcare.

• Indigenous Systems of Medicine Committee (1948): Pushed back, saying Ayurveda is part of Indian culture, linked it to the Vedas, and blamed its decline on “foreign rule.” This marked the entry of communal overtones into a scientific debate.

Fast forward to 1970, the Indira Gandhi government passed a law formally recognizing Ayurveda, Siddha, and Unani practitioners.

In 2020, this law was replaced with a new one: The National Commission for Indian System of Medicine Act, giving these systems their own central regulatory bodies.

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💊 When Ayurvedic Doctors Want to Prescribe Modern Drugs

Here’s the real flashpoint: Ayurvedic practitioners want to prescribe modern medicine—yes, even antibiotics, which are born out of evidence-based science.

So, can they?

According to Indian law, only registered medical practitioners (RMPs) can prescribe modern drugs. But the definition of “RMP” under the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945 was vague enough for many states to interpret it liberally.

Result?

Some states passed orders allowing Ayurvedic and Unani doctors to prescribe modern drugs.

But wait…

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⚖️ The Supreme Court Steps In

In 1998, the Supreme Court clarified in Dr. Mukhtiar Chand v. State of Punjab:

“You can’t prescribe drugs of a system of medicine unless you are trained in that system.”

In other words, Ayurvedic doctors cannot legally prescribe allopathic medicine.

But did it stop there? Nope.

States continued passing such orders. The Indian Medical Association kept challenging them. Consumer courts began hearing cases where patients felt cheated, thinking they were treated by an MBBS doctor when they were not.

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🏥 From Prescriptions to Surgeries: Where’s the Line?

Here’s where it gets serious.

In 2020, the government passed a notification allowing postgraduate Ayurvedic practitioners to perform 58 types of surgeries—including removal of gallbladder, appendix, and benign tumors.

Sounds like a plot twist, right?

Now imagine this: A patient enters a hospital thinking a trained surgeon is about to operate. But the person holding the scalpel is a BAMS graduate—someone trained in doshas and traditional texts, not surgical procedures as per modern medical curricula.

And here’s the scary part:
Some hospitals even hire Ayurvedic practitioners instead of MBBS doctors to cut costs.

The legality of that 2020 notification is still being fought in court.

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💰 The Money Behind the Medicine

Let’s talk numbers.

• The government spends around ₹20,000 crore of taxpayers’ money on AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, Homeopathy) research institutions.

• Now, there’s talk of including AYUSH treatments under Ayushman Bharat, India’s national health insurance scheme.

Translation: Your tax money may soon be paying for treatments that lack robust scientific evidence.

The sad part? These research councils have produced very little meaningful scientific output despite the generous funding.

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🧠 A Tale of Two Realities

Let’s imagine two patients:

1. Rekha, 45, has chronic digestive issues. She visits an Ayurvedic doctor who suggests a herbal concoction. She feels better, credits Ayurveda, and tells all her WhatsApp groups about it.

2. Vikram, 50, has a heart attack. In the emergency room, he’s intubated, given blood thinners, and stabilized by a modern medicine team. He survives because of decades of rigorous medical research.

Both stories are valid in their own way. But should we treat both systems as equal?

Should we merge two completely different epistemologies—one based on scripture, another on science?

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🇮🇳 The Politics of Pride

The conversation isn’t just medical or legal—it’s also political.

With the rise of Hindu nationalism, Ayurveda is no longer just a healing system—it’s become a symbol of cultural pride. Suddenly, Pushpaka Vimana and Kauravas as test-tube babies are not just mythology but examples of ancient Indian science (as claimed by some politicians).

In this climate, even parties like the Congress, which earlier championed modernity, now pledge to support all systems of medicine in their election manifestos. Why? Because opposing Ayurveda might be seen as opposing Indian culture.

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🧪 Science or Sentiment? A Nation Must Choose Wisely

This is not a fight about who gets to wear a stethoscope or hang a "Dr." board. It’s about public health, medical ethics, and the future of healthcare in India.

We must ask:

• Can tradition replace science?

• Should belief override data?

• Should emotional pride dictate health policy?

Because the joke, dear reader, is ultimately on us—the taxpayers, the patients, the citizens.

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💭 Final Thoughts: What’s the Cure?

India doesn’t need to discard traditional knowledge. In fact, scientifically researching Ayurveda could be immensely useful. But mixing it with modern medicine without clear boundaries is not integration—it’s confusion.

As a country, we must ensure that policy is based on reason, not rhetoric. We need to protect people’s right to both wellness and truth.

And sometimes, the bitterest pill to swallow is the one called evidence.

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Have thoughts? Been treated by a traditional practitioner? Share your story below! Let’s keep this discussion real, respectful, and rational.

UPSC CSE Mains Syllabus for GS Paper I to IV

Are you preparing for the UPSC Civil Services Mains Examination? Understanding the General Studies (GS) syllabus is crucial to your success. In this comprehensive post, we present the official syllabus for General Studies Paper I to IV, organized in a clear and structured format. Whether you're a first-time aspirant or a seasoned candidate, this guide is your go-to reference.

📝 General Studies Paper-I

Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society

• Indian Culture - Salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times.
• Modern Indian History from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present- significant events, personalities, issues.
• The Freedom Struggle — its various stages and important contributors/contributions from different parts of the country.
• Post-independence Consolidation and Reorganization within the country.
• History of the World will include events from 18th century such as Industrial Revolution, world wars, Redrawal of National Boundaries, Colonization, Decolonization, political philosophies like Communism, Capitalism, Socialism etc.— their forms and effect on the society.
• Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India.
• Role of Women and Women’s Organization, Population and Associated Issues, Poverty and Developmental issues, Urbanization, their problems and their remedies.
• Effects of Globalization on Indian society.
• Social Empowerment, Communalism, Regionalism & Secularism.
• Salient features of World’s Physical Geography.
• Distribution of Key Natural Resources across the world (including South Asia and the Indian sub-continent); factors responsible for the location of primary, secondary, and tertiary sector industries in various parts of the world (including India).
• Important Geophysical Phenomena such as earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic activity, cyclone etc., geographical features and their location-changes in critical geographical features (including water-bodies and ice-caps) and in flora and fauna and the effects of such changes.

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🏛️ General Studies Paper-II

Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International Relations

• Indian Constitution—Historical Underpinnings, Evolution, Features, Amendments, Significant Provisions and Basic Structure.
• Functions and Responsibilities of the Union and the States, Issues and Challenges Pertaining to the Federal Structure, Devolution of Powers and Finances up to Local Levels and Challenges Therein.
• Separation of Powers between various organs Dispute Redressal Mechanisms and Institutions.
• Comparison of the Indian Constitutional Scheme with that of Other Countries.
• Parliament and State Legislatures—Structure, Functioning, Conduct of Business, Powers & Privileges and Issues Arising out of these.
• Structure, Organization and Functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary—Ministries and Departments of the Government; Pressure Groups and Formal/Informal Associations and their Role in the Polity.
• Salient Features of the Representation of People’s Act.
• Appointment to various Constitutional Posts, Powers, Functions and Responsibilities of various Constitutional Bodies.
• Statutory, Regulatory and various Quasi-judicial Bodies.
• Government Policies and Interventions for Development in various sectors and Issues arising out of their Design and Implementation.
• Development Processes and the Development Industry — the Role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders.
• Welfare Schemes for Vulnerable Sections of the population by the Centre and States and the Performance of these Schemes; Mechanisms, Laws, Institutions and Bodies constituted for the Protection and Betterment of these Vulnerable Sections.
• Issues Relating to Development and Management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
• Issues relating to Poverty and Hunger.
• Important Aspects of Governance, Transparency and Accountability, E-governance- applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential; Citizens Charters, Transparency & Accountability and institutional and other measures.
• Role of Civil Services in a Democracy.
• India and its Neighborhood- Relations.
• Bilateral, Regional and Global Groupings and Agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.
• Effect of Policies and Politics of Developed and Developing Countries on India’s interests, Indian Diaspora.
• Important International Institutions, agencies and fora - their Structure, Mandate.

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💹 General Studies Paper-III

Technology, Economic Development, Bio-diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management

• Indian Economy and issues relating to Planning, Mobilization of Resources, Growth, Development and Employment.
• Inclusive Growth and issues arising from it.
• Government Budgeting.
• Major Crops - Cropping Patterns in various parts of the country, - Different Types of Irrigation and Irrigation Systems; Storage, Transport and Marketing of Agricultural Produce and Issues and Related Constraints; E-technology in the aid of farmers.
• Issues related to Direct and Indirect Farm Subsidies and Minimum Support Prices; Public Distribution System - Objectives, Functioning, Limitations, Revamping; Issues of Buffer Stocks and Food Security; Technology Missions; Economics of Animal-Rearing.
• Food Processing and Related Industries in India- Scope’ and Significance, Location, Upstream and Downstream Requirements, Supply Chain Management.
• Land Reforms in India.
• Effects of Liberalization on the Economy, Changes in Industrial Policy and their Effects on Industrial Growth.
• Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.
• Investment Models.
• Science and Technology- Developments and their Applications and Effects in Everyday Life.
• Achievements of Indians in Science & Technology; Indigenization of Technology and Developing New Technology.
• Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, Robotics, Nano-technology, Bio-technology and issues relating to Intellectual Property Rights.
• Conservation, Environmental Pollution and Degradation, Environmental Impact Assessment.
• Disaster and Disaster Management.
• Linkages between Development and Spread of Extremism.
• Role of External State and Non-state Actors in creating challenges to Internal Security.
• Challenges to Internal Security through Communication Networks, Role of Media and Social Networking Sites in Internal Security Challenges, Basics of Cyber Security; Money-Laundering and its prevention.
• Security Challenges and their Management in Border Areas - Linkages of Organized Crime with Terrorism.
• Various Security Forces and Agencies and their Mandate.

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🧭 General Studies Paper-IV

Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude

This paper will include questions to test the candidates’ attitude and approach to issues relating to integrity, probity in public life and his problem-solving approach to various issues and conflicts faced by him in dealing with society. Questions may utilise the case study approach to determine these aspects. The following broad areas will be covered:

• Ethics and Human Interface: Essence, Determinants and Consequences of Ethics in - Human Actions; Dimensions of Ethics; Ethics - in Private and Public Relationships. Human Values - Lessons from the Lives and Teachings of Great Leaders, Reformers and Administrators; Role of Family Society and Educational Institutions in Inculcating Values.
• Attitude: Content, Structure, Function; its Influence and Relation with Thought and Behaviour; Moral and Political Attitudes; Social Influence and Persuasion.
• Aptitude and Foundational Values for Civil Service, Integrity, Impartiality and Non-partisanship, Objectivity, Dedication to Public Service, Empathy, Tolerance and Compassion towards the weaker-sections.
• Emotional Intelligence-Concepts, and their Utilities and Application in Administration and Governance.
• Contributions of Moral Thinkers and Philosophers from India and World.
• Public/Civil Service Values and Ethics in Public Administration: Status and Problems; Ethical Concerns and Dilemmas in Government and Private Institutions; Laws, Rules, Regulations and Conscience as Sources of Ethical Guidance; Accountability and Ethical Governance; Strengthening of Ethical and Moral Values in Governance; Ethical Issues in International Relations and Funding; Corporate Governance.
• Probity in Governance: Concept of Public Service; Philosophical Basis of Governance and Probity; Information Sharing and Transparency in Government, Right to Information, Codes of Ethics, Codes of Conduct, Citizen’s Charters, Work Culture, Quality of Service Delivery, Utilization of Public Funds, Challenges of Corruption.
• Case Studies on above issues.