Bill Summary

The National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (Amendment) Bill, 2021

• The National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (Amendment) Bill, 2021 was introduced in Lok Sabha on August 9, 2021.  It amends the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine Act, 2020.
   
• The 2020 Act replaced the Indian Medicine Central Council Act, 1970.  The 1970 Act set up the Central Council of Indian Medicine to regulate the education and practice of the Indian Medicine system (includes Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy).  The 2020 Act replaced the Council with a National Commission for regulating education and practice of the Indian medicine system.  Since, the setting up of the National Commission was taking time, the 1970 Act was not repealed immediately with passage of the 2020 Act.
   
• In the meantime, the 1970 Act was amended in September 2020 to provide for the reconstitution of the Central Council.  The Central Council was to be reconstituted within a year from the date of notification of amendments.  In April 2021, this time period was extended to two years, through an Ordinance.  The 1970 Act was also amended to provide that till the Council was reconstituted, its powers would be exercised by a Board of Governors, constituted by the central government. 
   
• The National Commission was constituted on June 11, 2021 to supersede the Central Council and on the same date the 1970 Act was repealed.  The 2021 Bill specifies that all powers and functions of the Board of Governors (as under the 1970 Act) will be deemed to have been done under the 2020 Act and will continue to remain in force.