- Why in news
- On 14 August 2026, the National Commission for Homoeopathy clarified that homoeopathic practitioners may not practise other systems of medicine, except under government health programmes after recognised training.
- What it is
- The National Commission for Homoeopathy is the statutory regulator of homoeopathy education and practice in India. It was set up under the National Commission for Homoeopathy Act, 2020, replacing the Central Council of Homoeopathy. It frames regulations on professional conduct, courses and standards.
- Core rule
- A homoeopathic practitioner shall not practise any system of medicine other than homoeopathy.
- Exception (proviso)
- The restriction does not bar practice under a National Health Programme or another Central or State Government programme, if the practitioner has completed training recognised or prescribed by the competent authority.
- BHMS regulation
- Sub-regulation (7) of Regulation 14 of the BHMS Regulations, 2022 recognises the role of homoeopathic graduates in Government health facilities and National Health Programmes.
- Legal basis
- The NCH is a statutory body created by the National Commission for Homoeopathy Act, 2020, which replaced the Central Council of Homoeopathy.
Don’t confuse with NCH vs NCISM: NCH regulates homoeopathy; the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) regulates Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha and Sowa-Rigpa. Both were created in 2020.
Don’t confuse with NCH vs NMC: The National Medical Commission regulates modern (allopathic) medicine under the NMC Act, 2019; NCH covers homoeopathy only.
Laws, judgments and statutory bodies: 30 Prelims questions since 2013 (what the law says, who chairs, legal basis). In Mains, 44 news-triggered questions, most in GS2, asking for provisions and challenges.
Why it matters
- Clarifies the line between professional conduct limits and permitted roles in public health programmes.
- Supports use of AYUSH graduates in government health delivery.
Problems
- Cross-practice (mixopathy) is contested, with concerns about patient safety and unclear scope of practice.
- Overlapping rules across regulators can confuse practitioners and the public.
Way forward
- Define clear, uniform training standards and scope of practice for programme roles.
- Coordinate among NCH, NMC and NCISM to avoid conflicting rules.
Put in your answer
Regulation 36(y) and proviso: Example of a regulator restricting cross-practice while allowing a government-programme exception with recognised training.
- 2022Mains GS2 · Q5Discuss role of NCBC after transformation from statutory to constitutional body.
- 2015Mains GS2 · Q16Discuss whether regulatory institutions must remain independent and autonomous, citing recent experiences.
- 2020Mains GS2 · Q15Steps for constitutionalization of a Commission; would it ensure gender justice?
UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.
No practice question for this one; the card may still help an answer. Why: Statutory regulator; clarification on cross-practice under Regulation 36(y) is niche, so UPSC unlikely to set a question (statutory bodies 7 of 327 Prelims).
Worth revising until Prelims 2028: most news questions come within two years of the event.