New Delhi: The Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), under the Ministry of Ayush, has announced the launch of the SPARK 4.0 Ayurveda Research Program (2025–26) – the fourth edition of its flagship Studentship Program for Ayurveda Research Ken (SPARK).
The initiative aims to promote scientific curiosity and research skills among undergraduate Ayurveda students across India.
Under the SPARK 4.0 Ayurveda Research Program, 300 Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS) students enrolled in colleges recognized by the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) will receive studentships worth ₹50,000 each, disbursed at ₹25,000 per month for two months.
The registration process begins on October 15, 2025, and applications will be accepted until November 15, 2025.
Prof. Rabinarayan Acharya, Director General, CCRAS, stated that the SPARK initiative reflects the Council’s commitment to fostering scientific engagement and advancing Ayurveda through youth-led research.
The program, he noted, has already inspired hundreds of students to bridge classical Ayurvedic knowledge with modern scientific inquiry.
Since its inception, SPARK has become increasingly popular among Ayurveda undergraduates. So far, 591 students from 289 institutions across 20 states have benefited from this national initiative, demonstrating its growing impact on the next generation of Ayurveda researchers.
SPARK 4.0 Ayurveda Research Program: Building a Research-Oriented Ayurveda Ecosystem
Designed as a platform for evidence-based inquiry, the SPARK 4.0 Ayurveda Research Program enables students to undertake short-term, mentor-guided research projects.
Participants gain hands-on experience in research design, data analysis, and methodology – essential skills for cultivating scientific rigor in the field of Ayurveda.
Institutions participating in the program are encouraged to provide research facilities, mentorship, and academic support during the two-month project duration. Upon completion and approval of their final reports, each selected scholar will also receive a certificate from CCRAS.
Prof. Acharya emphasized that SPARK–4.0 marks another milestone in CCRAS’s broader vision to strengthen India’s research ecosystem in traditional medicine while integrating innovation with the nation’s Ayurvedic heritage.
Interested students can visit the official portal https://spark.ccras.org.in/ for detailed guidelines, eligibility, and key dates.
