New Delhi: The Union Ministry of Ayush has appointed Dr Milind Babarao, Dean of the Faculty of Ayurveda and Unani at Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS), Nashik, as the newest member of the Advisory Council for Indian Systems of Medicine.   In a notification dated May 19, 2025, the Ministry has also named Dr. M.B. Gaur, Director and Principal of Ch. Brahm Prakash Ayurveda Charak Sansthan, as the new representative from the Union Territory of Delhi. Dr. Gaur replaces Prof. M.A. Jafri, Vice-Chancellor of Jamia Hamdard University, who was earlier appointed to the post in 2021.The Advisory Council was originally set up in September 2021 under the National Commission for Indian Medicine System (NCISM) Act, 2020. The Council plays a key role in advising the NCISM on matters related to education, training, research, and standards in Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, and Sowa-Rigpa systems of medicine. Also read- AYUSH Ministry Launches Initiatives to Integrate Ayush Medicine with Allopathic SystemAt the time of its formation, the Council included representatives from seven States – Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Delhi.Later, on August 9, 2023, the Ministry added representatives from Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh and inserted the State of Maharashtra as the ninth State to have its representation in the Advisory Council.According to the latest media report by Pharmabiz, the chairperson of the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) serves as the ex officio chairperson of the Advisory Council. All NCISM members are also ex officio members of the Council. In addition, the Council includes nominated representatives from nine States, one from the Union Territory of Delhi, and two from State Medical Councils related to Indian Systems of Medicine.Initially, only the Board of Indian Medicine, Rajasthan, had a representative on the Council. However, a 2023 amendment added a second nominee from the Madhya Pradesh Ayurveda, Unani, and Naturopathy Board, Bhopal.As per the 2023 amendment, State and UT nominees will serve either until the end of their official tenure, for four years, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.The other members of the Council include the chairman of the University Grants Commission, the director of the National Assessment and Accreditation Council, and the directors of IITs in Delhi and Guwahati, the director of the Indian Institute of Management, Kozhikode, and the director of the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru.Also read- Scope for innovations in Indian System of Medicines is Immense, says AYUSH Secretary