CCRAS Details Tribal and Ethno-Botanical Research Programmes for Traditional Medicine

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CCRAS validates traditional and tribal medicine through two flagship programmes — the Tribal Health Care Research Programme (started 1982, active in 14 states) and the Medico Ethno-Botanical Survey (started 1969, documenting medicinal plants).
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A May 2023 MoA between the Ministry of Ayush and ICMR promotes joint Integrative Health Research; a completed Ayush-ICMR study tested an Ayurvedic anaemia treatment against standard iron-folic-acid therapy.
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CGHS beneficiaries can choose either Allopathic or Ayush treatment based on clinical need, reflecting the government's broader integrative-medicine push.

●CCRAS = Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences, apex Ayurveda research body under the Ministry of Ayush
●THCRP (Tribal Health Care Research Programme): started 1982, operating in 14 states through 15 institutes
●MEBS (Medico Ethno-Botanical Survey): started 1969, surveys and documents medicinal plants used in Ayurveda
●MoA between Ministry of Ayush and ICMR: signed 11 May 2023, for Integrative Health Research
●AIIA, New Delhi and the National Institute of Ayurveda, Jaipur conduct clinical/translational validation of tribal and folklore-based health practices

Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS)

Documents and validates Local Health Traditions, Ethno-Medical Practices and folklore claims for novelty; runs THCRP and MEBS

Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)

MoA partner (11 May 2023) with the Ministry of Ayush for joint integrative health research and capacity building

Exam Relevance

upsc

GS Paper 2 > Governance > Health Research Bodies

Expected Questions

★In which year was the Medico Ethno-Botanical Survey started, and by which body?
★What is THCRP and how many states does it cover?

historyTopic Frequency

Recurring Parliament reply on traditional-medicine validation

Key Terms

Local Health Traditions (LHT)

Traditional, community-based health practices and folk remedies that CCRAS documents and scientifically validates for novelty and safety.

priority_highMust Remember

•MEBS started 1969; THCRP started 1982, active in 14 states
•Ministry of Ayush-ICMR MoA for Integrative Health Research signed 11 May 2023

tips_and_updatesExam Tips

•THCRP (tribal focus) and MEBS (plant-documentation focus) are frequently confused — MEBS is older (1969) and plant-centred, THCRP is newer (1982) and community-centred.

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CCRAS Details Tribal and Ethno-Botanical Research Programmes for Traditional Medicine

Key Points

Quick Facts

Important Bodies

Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS)

Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)

Exam Spotlight

Exam Relevance

Expected Questions

historyTopic Frequency

Key Terms

priority_highMust Remember

tips_and_updatesExam Tips

Practice Quiz

The Medico Ethno-Botanical Survey (MEBS), run by CCRAS to document medicinal plants used in Ayurveda, was started in which year?

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