Agartala, July 26, 2025: The Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), under the Ministry of AYUSH has launched an advanced Ayurvedic Health Kisok Machine at Regional Ayurveda Research Centre (RARC), Agartala as part of a nationwide health awareness initiative inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision.

The state-of-the-art device based on traditional Ayurvedic principles will evaluate two critical health parameters- Swastha Assessment Skill (assessing overall well-being, including physical, mental, and social health) and Agni Assessment Skill (evaluating the digestive fire or metabolic function). It will also calculate Body Mass Index (BMI) using age, weight, and height and assess water and mineral content to aid in early disease detection and preventive care.

“This machine is an effort to bridge traditional Ayurvedic diagnostics with modern technology. It empowers individuals with timely health insights and promotes holistic well-being,” said a senior CCRAS official. The rollout will begin in India’s Northeastern region with further expansion planned in a phased manner across the country.

Marking the development, Director General of CCRAS, Prof. (Vaidya) Rabinarayan Acharya visited the Regional Ayurveda Research Centre (RARC), Agartala on Saturday. During his inspection, he reviewed ongoing research, public outreach and community healthcare services.

“Agartala’s center is playing a vital role in tribal health care, herbal documentation, and awareness generation. Our aim is to make Ayurveda more accessible and data-driven,” Prof. Acharya remarked.

The RARC Agartala provides free OPD consultations to 40–50 patients daily. Under the Tribal Health Care Research Project (THCRP-TSP), the center has been organizing health camps and documenting indigenous health practices since 2019. Two parallel projects are underway to study ethnic dietary habits and ritualistic customs.

Under the North-East Ayurvedic Health Centre (AHC-NE) initiative, district-level extension centers in Tripura offer OPD services, awareness drives, and basic diagnostics like hemoglobin and blood sugar testing. These centers also commemorate major national health observances to spread awareness.

Since 2022, the center has been implementing the National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB) project, aimed at cataloguing ethnic medicinal knowledge. So far, surveys across Tripura and Mizoram have recorded 416 traditional medicinal claims and collected 739 plant samples.

In April 2022, RARC Agartala was designated as a Peripheral Pharmacovigilance Centre, responsible for monitoring misleading advertisements and adverse drug reactions related to Ayurvedic medicines.

Prof. Acharya also inaugurated a Health Kiosk (Health ATM) during his visit—a touch-screen device that allows quick health checkups including BMI, SPO2, and blood pressure. The kiosk is expected to enhance patient convenience and streamline basic diagnostics.

Speaking at the event, Dr. Deepika Tewari, Research Officer In-charge, welcomed the Director General and presented an overview of the center’s activities. Dr. Vimal Tewari, Research Officer, delivered the vote of thanks.