Content

1. Shaping India’s Next Frontiers in Science Through Biomedical Research Careers
2. DRAVYA” Portal to Catalogue 100 Ayush Substances in First Phase

Shaping India’s Next Frontiers in Science Through Biomedical Research Careers

Context and Background

• Biomedical research integrates biological, medical, and technological sciences to improve healthcare outcomes through innovation in drugs, diagnostics, devices, and therapies.
• India’s biomedical sector is a key driver of its bioeconomy, contributing to public health, innovation, and self-reliance.
• The Department of Biotechnology (DBT), under the Ministry of Science & Technology, has been central in developing India’s biomedical ecosystem aligned with Atmanirbhar Bharat, Swasth Bharat, and Make in India.
• To institutionalize world-class biomedical careers, DBT and Wellcome Trust (UK) launched the Biomedical Research Career Programme (BRCP) in 2008–09 via the DBT/Wellcome Trust India Alliance (SPV).

Relevance:

• GS II – Governance & Social Justice:
  Institutional framework for biomedical research governance
  Gender and regional inclusion in science (BioCARe, Tier-2/3 outreach)
  Indo–UK scientific collaboration and policy partnership
• GS III – Science & Technology / Health / Economy:
  Promotion of indigenous biomedical innovation and translational R&D
  Strengthening Atmanirbhar Bharat and Swasth Bharat through research ecosystems
  Human capital development and contribution to India’s bioeconomy

Evolution of BRCP

Key Features of BRCP Phase-III

• Financial Outlay: ₹1,500 crore (DBT: ₹1,000 crore + Wellcome Trust: ₹500 crore).
• Implementation Period:
  • Active Phase: 2025–26 to 2030–31.
  • Servicing Phase: 2031–32 to 2037–38 for ongoing projects.
• Target Outcomes:
  • Train 2,000+ researchers and post-docs.
  • Achieve high-impact publications and patentable innovations.
  • Push 25–30% projects to TRL-4 and above (prototype validation).
  • 10–15% more support for women scientists.
  • Broaden outreach to Tier-2/3 research institutions.

Strategic Objectives

• Build world-class biomedical research ecosystems in basic, clinical, and public health domains.
• Attract global talent to Indian institutions.
• Promote interdisciplinary and translational research (lab-to-life).
• Strengthen research management and regulatory frameworks.
• Reduce regional disparities in scientific capacity.
• Foster ethical, inclusive, and transparent research culture.

Structure and Programmes

(a) Fellowship Categories

• Early Career & Intermediate Fellowships:
  Support for promising young scientists in basic, clinical, and public health research.
• Collaborative Grants:
  • Career Development Grants and Catalytic Collaborative Grants for team-based research.
  • Encourage partnerships between 2–3 investigators, bridging institutions.
• Research Management Programme:
  Builds administrative and technical capabilities in research institutions.

(b) Capacity-Building Components

• Mentorship and networking opportunities.
• National and international collaborations.
• Training in science administration and regulatory affairs.
• Emphasis on diversity and inclusivity.

Alignment with National Visions

• Directly linked to Viksit Bharat 2047—aiming for a globally competitive research ecosystem.
• Supports Atmanirbhar Bharat through domestic innovation in diagnostics, drugs, and devices.
• Advances Swasth Bharat via disease prevention, early diagnosis, and affordable healthcare.
• Contributes to Startup India through biotech entrepreneurship and translational R&D.

Impact Achievements from Previous Phases

(a) COVID-19 Response

• Supported 70+ projects including 10 vaccine candidates, 34 diagnostics, and 10 therapeutics.
• Strengthened national emergency biomedical response capacity.

(b) dbGENVOC – World’s First Oral Cancer Variant Database

• Developed by DBT–NIBMG with 24 million variants from Indian patients.
• Enables genetic research for oral cancer (India’s most common male cancer).

(c) National AMR Mission

• Collaboration with WHO using One Health Approach.
• Created AMR pathogen priority list, national bio-repository, and AMR R&D partnerships.

(d) Biorepositories and Clinical Trial Networks

• Established across India for translational research and data sharing.
• Accelerated lab-to-market pathways for diagnostics and therapeutics.

Women in Biomedical Research

• BioCARe Programme: First independent research grants for women scientists.
• Janaki Ammal Award: Recognizes excellence in biomedical research.
• BIRAC WInER Awards & Bioincubators: Support women-led biotech startups.
• Women Leaders in Global Health Conference: Global platform for collaboration and leadership.

Priority Research Domains

Expected Macro-Level Outcomes

• Human Capital: 2,000+ trained scientists and research managers.
• Innovation Output: Increased patents, TRL-4+ products, global collaborations.
• Gender Equity: Higher women representation in leadership and research roles.
• Economic Impact: Strengthened bioeconomy through biotech startups and indigenization.
• Health System Strengthening: Affordable, evidence-based solutions for national health priorities.

Global Relevance

• Reinforces India–UK scientific diplomacy and South–South cooperation.
• Showcases India as a biomedical innovation hub for developing nations.
• Builds research credibility through open data and ethical frameworks.

Challenges Ahead

• Bridging infrastructure and funding gaps across Tier-2/3 institutions.
• Retaining talent against global research migration.
• Ensuring ethical compliance and data protection in biomedical research.
• Translating academic breakthroughs into commercial solutions effectively.

Conclusion

• BRCP Phase-III represents a strategic Indo-UK partnership to transform India’s biomedical research into a globally competitive, inclusive, and innovation-driven enterprise.
• It integrates capacity building, inclusivity, translational innovation, and public health priorities—anchored to Viksit Bharat 2047.
• With initiatives like GenomeIndia, dbGENVOC, and AMR Mission, India is transitioning from a knowledge consumer to a global knowledge producer in life sciences.
• The programme is expected to catalyze health security, economic growth, and global leadership in biomedical innovation.

“DRAVYA” Portal to Catalogue 100 Ayush Substances in First Phase

Basic Context

• DRAVYA stands for Digitised Retrieval Application for Versatile Yardstick of Ayush.
• It is an AI-ready digital portal launched by the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) under the Ministry of Ayush.
• Objective: To digitize, unify, and standardize information on medicinal substances used in Ayush systems (Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, Homoeopathy).
• Launched during the 10th Ayurveda Day (23 September 2025, Goa) — themed around the digital transformation of traditional medicine.

Relevance:

• GS II – Governance & Social Justice:
  Digital governance under Ministry of Ayush for transparency and access
  Integration of traditional knowledge with modern policymaking
  Institutional strengthening through CCRAS and Ayush Grid
• GS III – Science & Technology / Health:
  AI-enabled digitization and standardization of Ayush substances
  Evidence-based validation of traditional medicine systems
  Contribution to Digital India and Viksit Bharat 2047 through health-tech innovation

Core Objective and Vision

• Create a comprehensive open-access digital repository of Ayush medicinal substances.
• Integrate classical Ayurvedic knowledge with modern scientific data for global use.
• Establish a credible, evidence-based knowledge platform to strengthen scientific validation and international collaboration in traditional medicine.

Implementation: Phase I

• Scope: Catalogue 100 key medicinal substances in the first phase.
• Dynamic Updating: Continuous data input through a dedicated entry software ensuring precision and authenticity.
• Developed by: CCRAS (an autonomous body under Ministry of Ayush).
• Future Expansion: Will progressively cover a larger range of Ayush substances and formulations.

Technological and Structural Features

• AI-Ready Architecture: Enables integration with future artificial intelligence tools for predictive analytics, cross-referencing, and data mining.
• Integration:
  • Linked to the Ayush Grid, India’s central digital health mission for traditional systems.
  • Will connect with other Ministry of Ayush databases on drug policy, medicinal plants, and pharmacopoeias.
• QR Code Integration:
  • Standardized QR codes will be installed in medicinal plant gardens and drug repositories across India.
  • Enables users to scan and instantly access verified digital profiles of substances.
• User Interface: Designed to be intuitive, modular, and multilingual, ensuring accessibility for researchers, students, and practitioners.

Data Coverage and Content

The portal consolidates data from:

• Classical Ayurvedic Texts: Charaka Samhita, Sushruta Samhita, etc.
• Modern Research Databases: PubMed, pharmacopoeias, botanical and chemical datasets.
• Key Information Domains:
  • Ayurvedic pharmacotherapeutics (uses, dosages, formulations)
  • Botanical identification and taxonomy
  • Chemical constituents and pharmacology
  • Pharmaceutical standards and safety profiles
  • Toxicity, drug interactions, and quality control data

Institutional and Policy Context

• Nodal Agency: Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS).
• Supported by: Ministry of Ayush.
• Part of Broader Initiatives:
  • Ayush Grid: Digital integration of Ayush education, clinical, research, and drug sectors.
  • Evidence-Based Ayush Research Policy: For enhancing credibility and standardization of Ayush systems.
  • National Ayush Mission: Strengthening Ayush infrastructure and mainstreaming traditional medicine.

Leadership Statements (Indicative Significance)

• Union Ayush Minister Prataprao Jadhav:
  • Called DRAVYA “the living embodiment of India’s knowledge tradition in a contemporary form.”
  • Emphasized blending of traditional wisdom with modern technology for global innovation.
• Secretary Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha:
  • Highlighted the portal as a scientific and globally accessible resource, integrating classical and contemporary knowledge.
• Director General (CCRAS) Prof. Rabinarayan Acharya:
  • Positioned DRAVYA as a cornerstone for researchers, practitioners, and students, enabling pharmacopoeial harmonisation and evidence-based validation of Ayush drugs.

Strategic Significance

• Scientific Validation: Strengthens the evidence base of Ayurveda and other Ayush systems, aligning them with modern research methodologies.
• Global Credibility: Positions India as a knowledge leader in traditional medicine and integrative health research.
• Cross-Disciplinary Innovation: Bridges Ayurveda with pharmacology, chemistry, AI, and data science.
• Policy Utility: Aids drug regulators, policymakers, and pharmacopoeial committees with authenticated data.
• Public Engagement: Enhances transparency, accessibility, and trust in traditional medicine.

Expected Outcomes

• Creation of a verified, standardized, and dynamic digital repository of medicinal substances.
• Promotion of research collaboration between Ayush scholars, biomedical scientists, and data technologists.
• Facilitation of drug discovery and formulation modernization using AI-enabled data analytics.
• Strengthened pharmacopoeial harmonization across different Ayush systems.
• Enhanced international trade and recognition of Indian traditional medicines through data transparency.

Broader Policy Relevance

• Digital Public Infrastructure for Health: Contributes to India’s digital health ecosystem under Ayush Grid and Digital India Mission.
• Viksit Bharat 2047 Vision: Aligns with the goal of transforming India into a global innovation and wellness hub.
• Evidence-Based Traditional Medicine: Supports WHO’s strategy (2025–2034) for integrating traditional medicine into national health systems.

Challenges Ahead

• Ensuring data standardization and authenticity across multiple classical sources.
• Balancing traditional epistemology with scientific validation frameworks.
• Maintaining interoperability between DRAVYA, Ayush Grid, and global digital health platforms.
• Continuous updating and peer review to prevent outdated or conflicting information.

Conclusion

• DRAVYA represents a transformative leap in bringing India’s ancient medicinal heritage into the digital and AI era.
• It blends Sanskrit grantha-based wisdom with modern research validation, creating a scientifically robust, globally accessible, and technology-driven repository.
• The initiative not only digitizes data but revitalizes Ayurveda’s intellectual ecosystem—making traditional medicine searchable, standardized, and globally credible.
• It marks India’s progress from being a custodian of heritage knowledge to a leader in evidence-based digital traditional medicine systems.