The National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) has advised Ayurveda colleges and institutions across India to explore and suitably integrate AyurSIM, an Ayurvedic virtual clinical simulation platform, as a supplementary teaching-learning resource. The recommendation was issued in a circular dated 4 September 2026 for competency-based Ayurveda education.
Recommended uses
According to NCISM, AyurSIM is a free-access virtual patient simulation platform intended to support practical and clinical learning. The commission has suggested that institutions consider using it in clinical skill and simulation laboratories, digital libraries, smart classrooms, tutorial groups, clinical case discussions and faculty development activities.
The circular does not describe the platform as a replacement for supervised practical instruction or clinical exposure. Instead, it presents AyurSIM as an additional resource that institutions may use in teaching and learning settings.
Development and support
AyurSIM was jointly developed by Amrita CREATE and Amrita School of Ayurveda in collaboration with the Institute of Teaching and Research in Ayurveda (ITRA), Jamnagar. The project received support from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
The initiative combines traditional Ayurvedic subject matter with virtual simulation tools. The material available does not provide details of the platform's curriculum coverage, technical specifications, assessment methods or measured learning outcomes.
Institutional role
NCISM has left the decision on adoption and integration to individual Ayurveda colleges and institutions, advising them to explore how the resource may fit existing teaching arrangements. Its suggested settings include both student-facing activities and faculty development.
The recommendation comes within the broader framework of competency-based Ayurveda education, where institutions are expected to support the development of practical and clinical skills alongside theoretical learning. The circular, as reported, does not announce a mandatory implementation schedule or prescribe a uniform model for use.
Why it matters
The advisory signals institutional interest in using virtual simulation as a supplementary tool in Ayurveda education. Its educational value will depend on how institutions integrate it with teaching, supervised skills training and clinical learning; the material provided does not report independent evidence of effectiveness.