The new Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoepathy (AYUSH) University is likely to take over the authority to affiliate colleges from the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS).
The varsity, proposed to be established in Shivamogga next year, will come up on 100 acres of government land.
Vijayakumar Gogi, Director of the State’s AYUSH Department, said discussions were on about the functions of the new university. “Traditionally, a university has three functions – affiliation, conduct of exams, and announcement of results.
The AYUSH University may begin with affiliation. Universities do have teaching and research functions, which will be explored later,” he said, adding that there was already a 100-bed ayurvedic hospital in the district.
Terming it an “era of specialisation”, he said the government’s decision to establish the varsity was on the lines of the agriculture and veterinary universities in the State. However, though the varsity is expected to streamline AYUSH courses and the colleges offering them, there is a delay almost every year in commencing counselling for the courses. This is owing to the delay in getting the approved seat matrix from the Central Council of Indian Medicine. This year alone, the Karnataka Examinations Authority has had to conduct three rounds of counselling followed by two more rounds of walk-in interviews. Another round is scheduled on November 25 to fill up the ‘enhanced’ seat matrix.
Mr. Gogoi said that students interested in pursuing AYUSH courses had been veered off to other courses owing to the delay. He said that almost all seats had been filled.
