The Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), Ministry of Ayush, has announced SPARK–4.0 (2025–26) — the fourth edition of its flagship Studentship Program for Ayurveda Research Ken (SPARK). This initiative aims to ignite scientific curiosity and research aptitude among undergraduate Ayurveda students across India.

Under this program, 300 Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS) students from colleges recognized by the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) will receive a studentship of ₹50,000 (₹25,000 per month for two months). The registration window opens on October 15, 2025, and the last date for submission of applications is November 15, 2025.

Prof. Rabinarayan Acharya, Director General, CCRAS, said that SPARK reflects the Council’s ongoing commitment to advancing Ayurveda through youth engagement and scientific training. He stated that the program has successfully inspired hundreds of students to take their first step into research, bridging classical Ayurvedic knowledge with modern inquiry.

Notably, SPARK has gained popularity among the undergraduate students of Ayurveda, with 591 students from 289 Ayurveda educational institutions across 20 states of the country having benefited from it.

Designed as a national platform to foster evidence-based inquiry in Ayurveda, SPARK enables undergraduates to undertake short-term, independent research projects guided by faculty mentors. It offers hands-on exposure to research methodology, experimental design, and data analysis — helping participants gain foundational experience in scientific investigation at an early academic stage.

The program has been conceptualized to cultivate a generation of young Ayurveda professionals with strong analytical and research orientation, while strengthening the long-term research ecosystem within the Ayush sector. Institutions are encouraged to support selected students by providing research facilities and academic guidance during the two-month project period.

Each selected scholar will also receive a certificate upon successful completion and approval of their final research report. The SPARK–4.0 cycle marks another milestone in CCRAS’s broader vision to strengthen India’s research capacity in traditional medicine and to integrate innovation with heritage.

For more details and key dates, students may visit the official website of the scheme at: https://spark.ccras.org.in/.

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