SHISHIKSHA: NCISM Orientation Guide
SHISHIKSHA (Bench to Bedside) is a uniform 6-day national-level Internship Orientation Programme prescribed by the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) across India. It aims to bridge the transition between classroom learning and clinical practice — ensuring every Ayurveda intern begins their journey as a competent, ethical, and professionally ready physician.
🏛️ Issued by: NCISM, New Delhi (Board of Ayurveda – Under Regulation 15(f), MSE 2022)
🎓 Applicable Batch: 2025–26 and onwards
📅 Notification Date: September 2025
1. Programme Structure
- Duration & Schedule: 6 Working Days (Total 42 Hours). 7 Hours per day.
- Mode of Learning: Lectures, Demonstrations, Hospital Rounds, Audio-Visual Sessions, and Hands-on Training.
- Timeline: Conducted immediately after the final BAMS exams and before internship posting.
- Implementation: Each college must nominate a SHISHIKSHA coordinator. Colleges should maintain a programme report, attendance, and feedback for NCISM.
2. Main Objectives
- Orient interns to hospital administration, roles, and responsibilities.
- Train in OPD/IPD documentation, prescription writing, and patient care.
- Enhance understanding of NABH standards and biomedical waste management.
- Introduce HIMS and E-Logbook digital record maintenance.
- Create awareness about medical ethics, medico-legal responsibilities, and safety protocols.
- Foster entrepreneurship and research aptitude in Ayurveda graduates.
3. Day-wise Curriculum Highlights
- Hospital rules, code of conduct & leave policies.
- NABH standards & patient safety goals.
- Biomedical waste management (BMW) mock drills.
- Capacity building: Communication skills & empathy.
- Kayachikitsa & Panchakarma: OPD/IPD notes & prescription writing (pathya/apathya).
- Pharmacy: Dispensing practices & ADR reporting.
- Laboratory: Sample collection & lab etiquettes.
- Surgery & ENT/Eye: OT etiquettes and procedures.
- NCISM ethics & registration regulations (2023).
- Medical certificate writing guidelines.
- "Drug and Magic Remedy Act" briefing.
- Stree Roga: Labour room etiquettes & ANC card writing.
- Kaumarbhritya: Vaccination cold chain & NICU.
- Casualty: Emergency medications & casualty protocols.
- AYUSH regulatory bodies introduction.
- Swasthavrutta: Diet chart preparation & Yoga.
- PHC Training: Rural healthcare orientation.
- Digital Mission: Telemedicine, E-Sanjeevani, & ABHA portal.
- Global AYUSH: Value travel & AYUSH VISA.
- Entrepreneurship: Start-ups & MSME schemes.
- Research: Publication & scientific presentation skills.
- Regulations: NEXT & NTET exam guidelines.
- Evaluation: Pre-test and Post-test evaluations.
4. Assessment & Protocols
- Examination: Pre-Test and Post-Test (30 Questions) for each intern.
- Attendance: Mandatory for all sessions (biometric preferred).
- Verification: E-Logbook entries must be verified by HOD or a designated officer.
- Feedback: A formal feedback form is to be submitted at the end of the orientation programme.
5. Expected Outcomes 🌿
- ✅ Be familiar with hospital functioning and patient management.
- ✅ Demonstrate clinical, diagnostic, and documentation skills.
- ✅ Understand ethical, legal, and safety responsibilities.
- ✅ Be digitally trained in E-Logbook & HIMS.
- ✅ Exhibit professional empathy, communication, and leadership qualities.
- ✅ Be prepared for independent Ayurveda practice or postgraduate studies.
💡 Why SHISHIKSHA Matters
The SHISHIKSHA module marks a crucial step in NCISM’s effort to standardize Ayurveda education. It ensures that graduates stepping into internship are not only academically trained but also professionally competent — ready to integrate Ayurveda’s classical principles with modern healthcare systems. This programme, along with AYURPRAVESHIKA (Transitional Curriculum) for first-year students, completes NCISM’s vision of quality education from entry to internship.
✨ Conclusion: SHISHIKSHA – Bench to Bedside is more than an orientation; it’s the beginning of a professional journey that transforms Ayurveda students into confident, ethical, and compassionate Vaidyas. With this initiative, NCISM reaffirms its mission to create globally competent Ayurveda professionals who embody both ancient wisdom and modern skill.
Internship Pathways (Duration: 1 Year)
Option I
Divided Clinical Training
- 6 Months: In the Ayurveda hospital attached to your college.
- 6 Months: In a Primary Health Centre (PHC), Community Health Centre (CHC), Rural Hospital, District Hospital, Civil Hospital, or any Government Hospital of Modern/Ayurveda Medicine.
- Private Hospitals: Allowed only if they are NABH (National Accreditation Board for Hospitals) accredited.
- Note: Only OPD-based clinics having NABH accreditation shall NOT be eligible for internship.
Option II
Full College Hospital Training
- All 12 Months: Entire training period spent in the Ayurveda hospital attached to your respective college.
- Ideal for gaining deep, sustained experience in traditional Ayurvedic setups and teaching environments.
- Direct supervision under college faculty and hospital staff.
Department-wise Duration Distribution
| Sl.No |
Departments & Respective IPD |
Option I
Mixed (6+6 Months) |
Option II
College (12 Months) |
| 1 |
Kayachikitsa
Including Manas Roga, Rasyan & Vajikarana, Swasthavritta & Yoga, Atyayik Chkitisa, related specialties.
|
1.5 Months |
3 Months |
| 2 |
Shalya Tantra
OPD including Operation Theatre (OT), related specialties.
|
1 Month |
2 Months |
| 3 |
Shalakya Tantra
OPD, related specialties including OT, Kriayakalpa.
|
3 Weeks |
1.5 Months |
| 4 |
Prasuti Tantra evam Stri Roga
OPD related specialties including OT.
|
3 Weeks |
1.5 Months |
| 5 |
Kaumarbhritya (Pediatrics)
OPD related specialties including NICU, pediatric Panchakarma.
|
0.5 Month (15 Days) |
1 Month |
| 6 |
Panchakarma
OPD related specialties, Panchakarma therapy rooms.
|
1 Month |
2 Months |
| 7 |
Visha Chikitsa / Elective
Any other specialties, screening OPD, Pathya unit etc. (As per choice of internee)
|
0.5 Month (15 Days) |
1 Month |
| 8 |
External Centre Posting
PHC / CHC / Rural / District / Civil Hospital etc.
|
6 Months |
Not Applicable |
National Health Programme Orientation
Interns shall be posted in centers implementing National Health Programmes to acquire practical knowledge and implementation skills. Approved centers include:
🏥
Primary Health Centre (PHC)
🚑
Community Health Centre (CHC)
🏙️
Civil or District Hospital
⚕️
Recognised Modern Medicine Hospital
🌿
Approved Ayurvedic Hospital/Dispensary
Important Policies
📅 Leave Rules
✓ Total Leaves: During the compulsory rotatory internship of one year, exactly twelve (12) leaves are permitted.
✓ Extensions: Any kind of absence beyond 12 days shall require the internship to be extended accordingly.
✓ Consecutive Limits: An intern cannot take more than six (6) days of leave at a single time (this includes prefix or suffix of any kind of holidays).
💰 Stipend Guidelines
✓ Parity Rule: Interns belonging to Central Government, State Government, and Union Territory institutions must be paid a stipend at par with other medical systems.
✓ No Discrimination: Under the respective governments, there shall not be any discrepancy between the Ayurveda medical system and other medical systems regarding the stipend amount.