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On 16 September 2026 the Union Health Ministry issued an advisory to all States and UTs: stem cell treatment may be offered as standard care only for conditions the Ministry has specifically approved.
For Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), any therapeutic use of stem cells is restricted to duly approved clinical trials.
The advisory follows the Supreme Court's 30 January 2026 judgment in Yash Charitable Trust v. Union of India, which held such therapy outside approved trials unethical and professional misconduct.
Violations can attract action under Regulation 7.22 of the Indian Medical Council Regulations, 2002, and Sections 32 and 40 of the Clinical Establishments Act, 2010, including cancellation of registration.
Issued jointly by ICMR and the Department of Biotechnology. They govern stem cell research, trials and ethics, and allow haematopoietic stem cell transplantation for blood disorders as standard care.
Basis for professional-misconduct action against doctors who offer unapproved stem cell therapy.
Penalties for non-compliance, and cancellation of a clinic's registration.
Treat stem-cell-derived products as new drugs that need CDSCO approval before clinical use.
Public health and hospitals are a State subject, so the Centre acts through advisories that States enforce.
Regulates medical education and professional conduct of doctors; replaced the Medical Council of India
Apex biomedical research body; co-author of the 2017 stem cell guidelines
Co-author of the 2017 guidelines; under the Ministry of Science and Technology
GS Paper II > Health; GS Paper III > Biotechnology
General Awareness > Science & Governance
With reference to the Constitution of India, consider the following statements: 1. No High Court shall have the jurisdiction to declare any central law to be constitutionally invalid. 2. An amendment to the Constitution of India cannot be called into question by the Supreme Court of India. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer: Neither 1 nor 2
The power of the Supreme Court of India to decide disputes between the Centre and the States falls under its
Answer: original jurisdiction
Who/Which of the following is the custodian of the Constitution of India?
Answer: The Supreme Court of India
In India, Judicial Review implies
Answer: the power of the Judiciary to pronounce upon the constitutionality of laws and executive orders.
With reference to the Constitution of India, prohibitions or limitations or provisions contained in ordinary laws cannot act as prohibitions or limitations on the constitutional powers under Article 142. It could mean which one of the following?
Answer: The Supreme Court of India is not constrained in the exercise of its powers by laws made by the Parliament.
An undifferentiated cell that can renew itself and turn into specialised cell types
A disease for which a therapy is formally approved as standard care
Haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (bone marrow transplant), approved for blood disorders