The Central Sanskrit University (CSU) has introduced a new academic pathway designed specifically for students who have completed their schooling in the Sanskrit medium. Under this initiative, called Ayurveda Gurukulam, eligible students can directly enter a structured route leading to the Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS).
The programme is built as a 7.5-year integrated course, beginning with two years of pre-Ayurveda education, followed by five-and-a-half years of BAMS study and mandatory internship. This structure allows Sanskrit scholars to transition smoothly from classical studies into professional medical education without abandoning their linguistic foundation.
According to CSU Vice-Chancellor Srinivas Varkhedi, the Ayurveda Gurukulam has been established under the Pre-Ayurveda Programme framework prescribed by NCISM. The objective is to revive the traditional Gurukul model of Ayurveda education while ensuring it functions within India’s current national regulatory system.
Admission to the programme will be through a dedicated entrance examination known as NEET-PAP, designed for candidates with a strong grounding in Sanskrit. The test is meant to ensure that students possess the linguistic and conceptual base required to study Ayurveda in its original textual form, while maintaining academic standards comparable to other medical entrance pathways.
A key feature of the course is its emphasis on classical Ayurvedic texts, including the Charaka Samhita and Sushruta Samhita, taught directly in Sanskrit. This approach is intended to deepen conceptual clarity and preserve the authenticity of Ayurvedic knowledge, while also integrating modern clinical training and regulatory requirements.
By aligning the programme with NCISM norms, CSU has ensured that graduates of Ayurveda Gurukulam will be professionally recognised and eligible for medical licensing and practice as certified Ayurvedic doctors.
The launch of Ayurveda Gurukulam marks an important step for Sanskrit scholars seeking careers in medicine, offering them a nationally recognised route into Ayurveda without breaking away from their traditional educational roots.
