The four apex councils, namely CCRAS, Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine (CCRUM), CCRH and Central Council of Research in Yoga and Naturopathy (CCRYN), implement research and development activities related to AYUSH under their various intra- and extra-mural research programmes.

CCRAS is an autonomous body under the Department of AYUSH, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. Its activities are carried out through its 38 institutes/units located all over India and through a number of units located in universities/institutes/hospitals of Ayurveda and Siddha. The practice, education and research in the Amchi System of Medicine is also under the supervision of CCRAS. The council funds research studies in all these disciplines with emphasis on finding effective, low-cost remedies for selected diseases through systematic research. Research activities of the council include clinical research, health care and drug research, nutraceutical and cosmaceutical research, literary research and family welfare research.

CCRUM, also an autonomous organization, was established in 1979 to initiate, develop and coordinate scientific research in Unani system of medicine. The council’s research programme comprises clinical research, drug standardization, i.e., development of standard operating procedures for compound formulations, survey, development of agro techniques for domestication and cultivation of medicinal plants and literary research. Its activities are carried out through a network of 22 institutes/units functioning in different parts of the country.

CCRH, fully funded by the government, functions through a network of 40 institutes/units throughout the country and is engaged in fundamental and basic research on mechanism of action of homeopathic medicines, clinical trials for predetermined protocols, drug-proving research, drug standardization, survey, collection and cultivation of medicinal plants.

CCRYN is a society registered under the Societies Registration Act as an autonomous body under AYUSH. Its basic objective is to conduct scientific research in the field of yoga and naturopathy and also to regulate education, training and propagation of these disciplines. Currently it is identifying NGOs to engage in clinical verification, literature research/translation/publication-related activities, establishment of treatment-cum-propagation centres and patient care centres.