🗞️ Why in News
President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated Saushrutam 2026, a three-day international seminar on Ayurvedic surgery, at the All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), New Delhi, on July 15, 2026, marking Sushruta Jayanti.
Honouring the Father of Surgery
Sushruta Jayanti commemorates Acharya Sushruta, the ancient Indian physician-surgeon widely regarded as the “father of surgery”. His work is preserved in the Sushruta Samhita, one of the foundational texts of Ayurveda and, crucially, of shalya-tantra, the branch dealing with surgery.
The Sushruta Samhita describes surgical instruments, procedures and training methods with a precision remarkable for its era. Among its best-known contributions is early rhinoplasty, the surgical reconstruction of the nose, along with cataract procedures and detailed classifications of surgical practice. These accounts place India’s medical heritage at the very origins of the surgical tradition.
The Purpose of Saushrutam 2026
The seminar’s theme is the evidence-based validation of Ayurvedic surgery. Rather than treating tradition as folklore, the aim is to subject classical surgical concepts to modern scientific scrutiny and integrate them with contemporary clinical practice. This reflects a broader policy of integrative medicine, where Ayurveda and modern biomedicine are brought into structured dialogue.
Announcements at AIIA
Alongside inaugurating the seminar, the President unveiled two further initiatives:
| Announcement | Significance |
|---|---|
| AI-enabled 3-Tesla High-Field MRI | Advanced imaging at AIIA, blending modern diagnostics with Ayurvedic care |
| NCISM study on Ayurveda female graduates | Data on women’s participation and outcomes in the Ayurveda profession |
The 3-Tesla MRI with artificial-intelligence assistance signals that a premier Ayurveda institution is embracing cutting-edge diagnostic technology, reinforcing the integrative model. The National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) study spotlights the growing role of women in the Indian systems of medicine.
The Institutional Backbone
AIIA is an apex institution under the Ministry of Ayush, envisioned as an Ayurveda counterpart to premier medical institutes and tasked with education, research and integrative clinical care.
The NCISM is the statutory regulator for Indian systems of medicine, established under the NCISM Act, 2020, which replaced the earlier Central Council of Indian Medicine. It governs standards, curricula and registration across Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha and Sowa-Rigpa.
Tradition, Evidence and Intellectual Property
A recurring theme is the protection of India’s traditional knowledge. The Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL), a database documenting Indian medical heritage in machine-readable form, has been used to prevent wrongful patents abroad on knowledge such as neem and turmeric formulations. Saushrutam 2026 fits this larger project of validating, documenting and defending India’s knowledge traditions rather than allowing them to be appropriated or dismissed.
UPSC Relevance
GS Paper 1: Indian culture covering the salient aspects of art forms, literature and architecture from ancient to modern times; India’s contribution to science.
Prelims pointers:
- Sushruta authored the Sushruta Samhita; branch of surgery is shalya-tantra; known for early rhinoplasty.
- AIIA functions under the Ministry of Ayush.
- NCISM is the statutory regulator under the NCISM Act, 2020 (replacing the Central Council of Indian Medicine).
- The TKDL documents traditional knowledge to block wrongful foreign patents.
Mains question: “India’s traditional knowledge systems are an asset only when they are documented, validated and legally protected.” Discuss with reference to Ayurveda and the Traditional Knowledge Digital Library.
📌 Facts Corner, Knowledgepedia
- Sushruta is called the father of surgery; the Sushruta Samhita is foundational to Ayurvedic surgery.
- Shalya-tantra is the surgical branch of the eight limbs (Ashtanga) of Ayurveda.
- AIIA, New Delhi, is the apex Ayurveda institute under the Ministry of Ayush.
- The NCISM Act, 2020 created the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine as the statutory regulator.
- The TKDL is a joint effort of CSIR and the Ministry of Ayush to protect traditional knowledge from biopiracy.
Sources: PIB - President’s Secretariat, All India Institute of Ayurveda, National Commission for Indian System of Medicine
Source: Saushrutam 2026 Validating Ayurvedic Surgery on Sushruta Jayanti — Ujiyari.com | Free UPSC & State PCS Current Affairs
