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Panel recommends strict penal provisions against false & misleading ads in Ayush
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Gireesh Babu, New Delhi
December 24 , 2025
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The Parliamentary Panel on Health and Family Welfare has called for incorporation of strict penal provisions into the regulations to deter false and misleading advertisements and claims regarding the Ayush medicines and treatments.
The Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare in the 168th report on action taken by the government on the recommendations the Panel has made in the 165th report on Demands for Grants 2025-26 of the Ministry of Ayush, also sought the Ministry to accord priority to the establishment of Ayush institutes and Yoga Ashrams in underdeveloped states.
Taking note of the Ministry's initiatives to create an online portal for reporting and tracking misleading or objectionable Ayush advertisements, the Panel emphasized that an online reporting mechanism alone is insufficient to address the growing number of violations, which reached 15,873 incidents in 2023-24 and 2024-25 (up to December 2024).
The Ministry must clearly identify and empower the authorities responsible for investigating and taking timely action against offenders, said the Panel headed by Prof. Ram Gopal Yadav, in the report presented in the Rajya Sabha recently.
"Moreover, the Committee is of the considered view that strict penal provisions should be incorporated into the relevant laws or regulations to deter and penalize those making false and misleading advertisement/claims, particularly, those asserting quick cures for serious and life threatening diseases," it suggested.
It further recommended that the Ministry should establish a transparent monitoring and reporting framework, through which it regularly updates on enforcement actions taken, including the number of investigations, prosecutions, penalties imposed, and cases resolved.
"This will ensure accountability, strengthen deterrence, and enhance public trust in Ayush healthcare system," said the Panel.
It also recommended that the Ministry of Ayush should undertake comprehensive public awareness campaigns to elucidate the authentic benefits of Ayurveda, while simultaneously implementing stringent measures to address quackery and misleading advertisements, particularly those purporting rapid cures for critical ailments such as cancer and chronic kidney disease.
The introduction of robust penal provisions is imperative to deter deceptive claims that compromise the credibility of Ayush systems, it averred.
The Panel also emphasized the need to extend Yoga awareness initiatives beyond the observance of World Yoga Day, ensuring sustained outreach at rural and block levels throughout the year.
"Priority should also be accorded to the establishment of Ayush institutes and Yoga Ashrams in underdeveloped states including Bihar, Jharkhand, and Uttar Pradesh," it added.
It may be noted that the menace of misleading advertisement was in the centre of public attention last year, with the Supreme Court of India hearing a petition from the Indian Medical Association against Union of India, Patanjali Ayurved and Divya Yoga Pharmacy promoted by Yoga Guru Ramdev.
The Apex court, in April, 2024, came down heavily on the drug control administration of Uttarakhand for not acting against the misleading advertisements placed by Patanjali Ayurved with claims on its product Coronil which allegedly violated the Drugs and Other Magical Remedies Act, 1954.
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