Dr. Kousthubha Upadhyaya, a senior Ayurvedic scholar and pharmaceutical policy expert, serves as Adviser (Ayurveda) in the Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India. He oversees the Drug Policy Section, Legal & Policy (L&P) Section, technical affairs of IMPCL, and the Extra-Mural Research (EMR) Scheme, along with leading the Heal in India/Heal by India initiatives and National AYUSH Mission activities. A Ph.D. in Ayurvedic Pharmaceutics, Dr. Upadhyaya is instrumental in advancing drug standardization, research innovation, and global promotion of India’s traditional medicine systems.
Adviser (Ayurveda), Ministry of AYUSH
2020 – Present |
📅 Appointed: 2020
👔 Designation: Adviser (Ayurveda)
🏛️ Government of India – Ministry of AYUSH
🧾 Departments / Divisions under charge:
Drug Policy Section – Formulation, regulation, and review of India’s AYUSH Drug Policy, including coordination with PCIM&H for pharmacopoeial standardization and quality control frameworks
Legal & Policy (L&P) Section – Drafting legal provisions, inter-ministerial coordination, and regulatory harmonization with health & pharmaceutical ministries
Technical Matters of IMPCL (Indian Medicines Pharmaceutical Corporation Ltd.) – Oversight of production, quality control, modernization, and expansion of the government’s premier AYUSH pharmaceutical enterprise
Extra-Mural Research (EMR) Scheme – Supervision of funding, monitoring, and evaluation of external AYUSH research projects undertaken by universities and research institutions across India
Heal in India / Heal by India Initiatives – Policy coordination for promoting India’s traditional medicine sector internationally through medical value travel and global Ayurveda education programs
National AYUSH Mission (NAM) – Technical advisory support for state-level implementation of NAM components related to Ayurveda service delivery, infrastructure, and drug manufacturing units
🌿 Key Responsibilities:
Strengthening the scientific and regulatory ecosystem for AYUSH pharmaceuticals
Expanding India’s traditional medicine exports through policy alignment with global standards
Overseeing evidence-based research to integrate Ayurveda with mainstream healthcare
Supporting the government’s Atmanirbhar Bharat mission through indigenous AYUSH drug production and innovation
Deputy Adviser (Ayurveda)
2016 – 2020 |
🏛️ Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India
🌿 Handled:
Drug Policy Section – framing national-level regulatory guidelines for ASU & H drugs
Legal & Policy (L&P) Section – overseeing compliance, inter-ministerial coordination, and international policy harmonization
Technical coordination with IMPCL for production and distribution of standardized Ayurvedic medicines
💬 Advocated integration of AYUSH pharmaceuticals with public health supply chains
Policy & Technical Expert, Ministry of AYUSH
2010 – 2016 |
📅 Joined the Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India, as a Senior Technical Officer (Ayurveda)
🧩 Worked on:
Standardization of Ayurvedic, Siddha, Unani (ASU) drugs under Pharmacopoeia Commission for Indian Medicine & Homoeopathy (PCIM&H)
Policy formulation for AYUSH pharmaceutical regulation and licensing norms
Capacity-building workshops for state licensing authorities and research councils
🏆 Recognized for promoting transparency and harmonization in AYUSH drug policy
Academic & Research Career
2000 – 2010 |
🏛️ Served as Lecturer and later Associate Professor in leading Ayurvedic institutions
📚 Published research papers on Ayurvedic pharmaceutics, herbal standardization, and drug safety protocols
💊 Contributed to development of advanced formulations and GMP-compliant Ayurvedic manufacturing processes
🌱 Promoted scientific validation and standardization in classical drug preparation and quality control
Early Life & Education
📍 Birthplace: Karnataka, India
🎓 Education:
B.A.M.S. (Bachelor of Ayurveda Medicine & Surgery) – Bangalore University
M.D. (Ayurveda – Rasashastra & Bhaishajya Kalpana) – Gujarat Ayurved University, Jamnagar
Ph.D. (Ayurveda – Pharmaceutical Sciences) – Jamnagar
🌿 A scholar of Ayurvedic pharmaceutics, policy expert, and researcher recognized for modernizing traditional drug standards and promoting India’s Ayurveda-based pharmaceutical sector globally