Conducted between 2021 and 2023, the survey covered 8,406 km long stretches of Ganga and Brahmaputra river basins, inclusive of its tributaries, and a 101 km long stretch of the Beas river.

India has 6,324 Gangetic dolphins across the Ganga and Brahmaputra river basins and three Indus river dolphins in the Beas river basin in Punjab, the country’s first-ever detailed dolphin population survey has found.

Conducted between 2021 and 2023, the survey covered 8,406 km long stretches of Ganga and Brahmaputra river basins, inclusive of its tributaries, and a 101 km long stretch of the Beas river.

“The dolphin estimate for Ganga is 5,689 (range: 5,371-6,024), while 635 dolphins were estimated in Brahmaputra, totalling a population estimate of 6,234 (range: 5,977-6,688) in the surveyed rivers,” the report stated.

PM Narendra Modi released the results of the dolphin population survey during the 7th meeting of National Board for Wildlife held Monday at the Gir National Park. He launched Project Dolphin on August 15, 2020.

The survey was done by Wildlife Institute of India, state forest departments of Punjab, UP, Bihar, Assam, Jharkhand, Rajasthan and non-profit organisations including Aaranyak, World Wildlife Fund, Turtle Survival Alliance and Wildlife Trust of India.

Of the 6,324 Gangetic dolphins, 3,275 were found on the river’s main stem, 2,414 were found in Ganga’s tributaries while 584 were found in Brahmaputra’s main stem. A total of 28 rivers were surveyed by boat for the estimation exercise and 30 river stretches were mapped by road.

Among range states, 2,397 dolphins were counted in UP, 2,220 in Bihar, 162 in Jharkhand, 95 in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, 815 in West Bengal, 635 in Assam and three in Punjab.

In Ganga, a total of 7,109 km was actively surveyed, which included the main stem of Ganga as well as its tributaries – Chambal, Yamuna, Rapti, Sharda, Ghaghara, Mahananda, Kosi, Gandak, Geruwa, Rupnarayan, Torsa, Kaljani, Churni, and Haldi, covering UP, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan.

In UP, the highest encounter or concentration of dolphins was found in the 47-km stretch of Bhind-Pachnada in Chambal River.

The Kanpur-Vindhyachal stretch of 380 km had an encounter rate of 1.89 dolphins/km. The dolphin population in 366-km long Narora to Kanpur stretch was almost non-existent, the report said.

In Bihar, the survey found dolphin populations thriving in most stretches due to relatively higher water depth owing to tributaries such as Ghaghara, Gandak, Kosi and Son, coupled with ideal river morphology. The stretch from Chausa–Manihari, covering the Ganga’s main stem has 1,297 dolphins in 590 km, making it one of the most densely populated stretches.

source/content: indianexpress.com (headline edited)

Each recipient receives a citation, a trophy featuring a statue of Lord Dhanwantari, and a cash prize of ₹5 lakh.

he Ministry of Ayush conferred the prestigious National Dhanwantari Ayurveda Awards for the current year on three distinguished practitioners for their exceptional contributions to the field of traditional Indian medicine.

This year’s recipients of the coveted award are Vaidya Tara Chand Sharma, renowned Nadi Vaidya and author; Vaidya Maya Ram Uniyal, a distinguished scholar of Dravyaguna Vigyana with six decades of service; and Vaidya Sameer Govind Jamadagni, founder of the Vishwa Vyakhyanmala national conference.

Union Government to include AYUSH in Ayushman Bharat scheme

Each recipient receives a citation, a trophy featuring a statue of Lord Dhanwantari, and a cash prize of ₹5 lakh.

“The National Dhanwantari Ayurveda Awards represent India’s commitment to advancing holistic healthcare while preserving traditional medical knowledge,” an Ayush Ministry statement said.

Prataprao Jadhav, Union Minister of State for Ayush (IC), conferred the awards upon the three distinguished Vaidyas during an event held in Mumbai on February 20.

“The National Dhanwantari Ayurveda Awards showcase India’s immense contribution to global health care. These visionaries have demonstrated exceptional dedication in promoting Ayurveda worldwide, perfectly aligning with our mission to integrate traditional wisdom with modern healthcare systems,” Mr. Jadhav said.

Adding his perspective, Ayush Secretary Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha remarked, “Through decades of research and innovation, these practitioners have modernised Ayurveda practices while maintaining their authentic essence. Their work exemplifies how traditional knowledge can be adapted to address contemporary health challenges.”

“Vaidya Tara Chand Sharma, renowned for his mastery as a Nadi Vaidya, has also distinguished himself as an insightful author. His thought-provoking publications have opened new doors for explorative Ayurveda learning, encouraging a new generation to dive deep into the science of life,” the statement said. “His career, adorned with numerous accolades, is a testament to his impact on the ever-evolving landscape of Ayurveda,” it stated.

“Equally inspiring is the journey of Vaidya Maya Ram Uniyal from Uttar Pradesh, a visionary in Dravyaguna Vigyana. With more than six decades of unwavering dedication, his prolific writings and stellar administration have inspired many,” the statement added.

“His recognition with the Vanoushadi Vanaspati and Lifetime Achievement Awards further cements his legacy in raising Ayurveda’s stature worldwide. His work exemplifies how tradition, when blended with modern insight, can become a global force for wellness,” the statement said.

“Adding to this is Vaidya Sameer Govind Jamadagni, whose contributions span more than four decades,” the statement said. The founder of the Vishwa Vyakhyanmala national conference and Vishwa Ayurveda Prabodhini, he has built platforms that have transformed Ayurveda education.

“His initiatives have not only advanced innovative practices but have also sparked global dialogues that continue to enrich Ayurveda’s relevance in contemporary healthcare,” the statement said.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

The inclusion of traditional medicine in WHO’s internationally recognised health framework ensures that Indian health systems are officially documented and categorised.

The story so far:

To try and put Indian systems of medicine on the world map and provide them with a uniform, standardised language, the Union government, in October 2023, had asked for Ayurveda and related systems of traditional medicine to be included in the 11th revision of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) International Classification of Diseases (ICD), as the second module of a supplementary chapter on traditional medicine conditions.

As per the WHO, the ICD serves to record and report health and health-related conditions globally. It ensures interoperability of digital health data, and their comparability. It contains diseases, disorders, health conditions and much more.

After a year’s work on this front by the Indian government, the WHO has now introduced a new module dedicated to traditional medicine conditions in its 2025 update to the International Classification of Diseases, according to the Union Health Ministry.

This step will aid in the systematic tracking and global integration of traditional systems of healthcare practices related to Ayurveda, Siddha, and Unani.

How did this come about?

“This update follows the successful year-long testing [process] and deliberations after the launch of ICD-11 TM-2 (on January 10, 2024, in Delhi) for Ayurveda, Siddha, and Unani systems of medicine for country implementation testing. It culminated in the deliberations held at the WHO meeting at the National Institute of Health in Malaysia in November 2024. The ICD-11 TM 2 module is now officially released on the ICD-11 Blue Browser of WHO,’’ said the Health Ministry.

The inclusion of traditional medicine in WHO’s internationally recognised health framework ensures that Indian health systems of Ayurveda, Siddha, and Unani are now officially documented and categorised in ICD-11, alongside conventional medical conditions.

Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary, Ministry of Ayush, stated, “The release of the ICD-11 update 2025 represents a significant step towards global integration of traditional medicine, specifically Ayurveda, Siddha, and Unani. By allowing dual coding and improving data collection, this update fosters evidence-based policymaking, enhances patient care, and supports the inclusion of traditional medicine in national healthcare strategies, promoting holistic and inclusive healthcare worldwide. This update also marks a pivotal moment for traditional medicine, paving the way for its global integration and empowering evidence-based integrative healthcare policies that embrace holistic well-being.”

According to the WHO , while traditional medicine (TM) is an area of healthcare in many countries, its diagnosis is currently not, or poorly document and reported. Aggregated and international comparable data on TM encounters in terms of form, frequency, effectiveness, safety, quality, outcome and cost therefore, is not available.

The TM Chapter will help to respond to growing demands for more and better regulation and integration of TM in mainstream health care and Health Information Systems. Efforts to effectively regulate Traditional Medicine as an integral part of the health system requires standardised and evidence-based information, the WHO’s website states.

“With the new updates, the ICD-11 offers more ease of use, improved interoperability and accuracy, which will benefit national health systems and the people they serve,” said Robert Jakob, Team Leader, Classifications and Terminologies Unit, WHO.

Does traditional medicine get a fillip with this move?

The Health Ministry said that traditional medicine has long been an essential component of healthcare, particularly in Asia, Africa, and other regions where indigenous practices complement modern medical approaches.

The introduction of the ‘Traditional Medicine Conditions’ module in ICD-11 is a major step toward acknowledging the vital role of Ayurveda, Siddha, and Unani in the modern healthcare landscape. This move aligns with WHO’s mission to promote universal health coverage and sustainable development goals, recognizing the therapeutic potential of these systems alongside contemporary medical treatments, the Ministry said.

By formally categorising these systems, WHO is facilitating a structured way for researchers, policymakers, and healthcare providers to systematically track and assess the impact of traditional medicine in health systems worldwide.

In India Ayurveda, Siddha, and Unani are centuries-old systems of healthcare that have been accessed and used by millions of people.

“The traditional medicine module in ICD-11 is designed to capture morbidity data, rather than mortality and will help governments and healthcare institutions assess the frequency, quality, and cost-effectiveness of traditional medicine interventions. This evidence-based approach will allow policymakers to make informed decisions about the integration of traditional medicine services into national health frameworks,’’ said the Ministry.

The WHO however, makes it clear that the Traditional Medicine Chapter is “neither judging nor endorsing the scientific validity of any Traditional Medicine practice or the efficacy of any Traditional Medicine intervention”.

As a tool for counting and comparing Traditional Medicine conditions the Traditional Medicine Chapter of ICD-11 “can provide the means for doing research and evaluation to establish efficacy of Traditional Medicine,” it states.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)