NCISM curriculum for Panchakarma & Upakarma (Therapeutic Procedural Management) — paper-wise topics with teaching hours, practicals, assessment pattern and reference books.
Department of Panchakarma covers Panchakarma & Upakarma (AyUG-PK) in the Third Professional year of BAMS (Ayurvedacharya). The syllabus below follows the curriculum prescribed by the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM): the topic list of every paper with its teaching hours, followed by practicals, the assessment pattern and reference books.
Panchakarma & Upakarma (Therapeutic Procedural Management)
Panchakarma, a cornerstone of Ayurveda, embodies holistic healing through detoxification, rejuvenation, and restoration of balance in body and mind. This syllabus is designed to provide students with a profound understanding of its principles, therapeutic applications, and integration into modern healthcare. Structured into ten sections, the curriculum covers foundational and advanced concepts, emphasizing detoxification, rejuvenation, and the clinical implementation of various Panchakarma procedures.
| Subject | Panchakarma & Upakarma (Therapeutic Procedural Management) |
|---|---|
| NCISM subject code | AyUG-PK |
| Professional year | III BAMS (Third Professional) |
| Theory papers | 1 (100 marks) |
| Teaching hours | 300 hours (Lecture 100, Non-lecture theory 60, Non-lecture practical 140) |
| Total marks | 300 (Theory 100 + Practical/clinical assessment 200) |
| Applicability | Applicable from 2021-22 batch, from the academic year 2024-25 onwards for 5 batches or until further notification by NCISM, whichever is earlier |
| Source | NCISM curriculum document (86 pages) |
Papers in Panchakarma & Upakarma
| Paper | Topics | Lecture Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Paper I – Panchakarma and Upakarma | 10 | 100 |
Paper I – Panchakarma and Upakarma of Panchakarma & Upakarma (AyUG-PK) has 10 topics with 100 lecture hours as listed in Table 2 of the NCISM curriculum (PDF page 6).
LH – lecture hours; NLHT – non-lecture hours (theory); NLHP – non-lecture hours (practical).
Definition, Types, Procedure and Benefits of
List of Practicals
68 practicals are listed in the NCISM curriculum, grouped by the topic they belong to.
Fundamentals of Panchakarma
Snehana Karma
Swedana Karma
Special Procedures: Sankara Sweda, Ksheeradhooma, Pizhichil, Dhanyamladhara, Takradhara, Thalam and Thalapothichil and Annalepa
Physiotherapy
Vamana Karma
Virechana Karma
Basti Karma
Nasya Karma
Emergency management and Research updates in Panchakarma and Upakarma
Non-Lecture Activities (Theory)
47 non-lecture theory activities — seminars, case discussions, projects and similar — are listed topic-wise.
Fundamentals of Panchakarma
Snehana Karma
Swedana Karma
Special Procedures: Sankara Sweda, Ksheeradhooma, Pizhichil, Dhanyamladhara, Takradhara, Thalam and Thalapothichil and Annalepa
Physiotherapy
Vamana Karma
Virechana Karma
Basti Karma
Nasya Karma
Emergency management and Research updates in Panchakarma and Upakarma
Papers and Marks Distribution
| Papers | Theory | Practical | Viva | Elective | Internal Assessment | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 100 | 100 | 70 | — | 30 | 300 |
Theory carries 100 marks and the practical/clinical assessment (practical, viva, elective and internal assessment) carries 200 marks, for a total of 300 marks.
Theory Question Paper Pattern (per paper)
| Question Type | Questions | Marks Each | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) | 20 | 1 | 20 |
| Short Answer Questions (SAQ) | 8 | 5 | 40 |
| Long Answer Questions (LAQ) | 4 | 10 | 40 |
Distribution of Practical Exam
| Heads | Marks |
|---|---|
| Short case with Panchakarma protocol writing | 30 |
| Procedure skill assessment (4 procedures on mannequins or simulated patients in OSPE format) | 40 |
| Viva (2 examiners: 35marks/each examiner) | 70 |
| Logbook (Activity record) | 10 |
| Practical/Clinical Record | 20 |
| Internal Assesment | 30 |
| Total | 200 |
Topic-wise learning objectives — with domain, must/desirable/nice-to-know level, teaching–learning methods and assessment methods — are tabulated in Table 3 of the NCISM document. Open pages 9–64
24 books and resources are recommended in the NCISM AyUG-PK curriculum (PDF page 78).
The syllabus on this page is taken from the official NCISM curriculum document. Download the PDF for the complete learning objectives, activity details, question paper blueprint and practical examination guidelines.
Syllabus of Other BAMS Departments
Panchakarma & Upakarma (Therapeutic Procedural Management) has the NCISM subject code AyUG-PK. It is a Third Professional BAMS (III BAMS) subject, and the curriculum is applicable from 2021-22 batch, from the academic year 2024-25 onwards for 5 batches or until further notification by NCISM, whichever is earlier.
It has 1 theory paper carrying 100 marks and a practical/clinical assessment of 200 marks (100 practical, 70 viva and 30 internal assessment), for a total of 300 marks.
The NCISM curriculum allots Panchakarma 300 teaching hours: 100 lecture hours, 60 non-lecture theory hours and 140 non-lecture practical hours.
Paper I (Panchakarma and Upakarma) has 10 topics, including Fundamentals of Panchakarma, Snehana Karma, Swedana Karma, Physiotherapy, Vamana Karma and Virechana Karma.
The NCISM curriculum lists 24 reference books and resources for Panchakarma. The complete list is given in the Reference Books section of this page.
Take the first step towards your dream career. Enquire Now or contact us for more information.