RRU Launches Behavioural Health Sciences Centre Today
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The School of Behavioural Sciences and Forensic Investigations (SBSFI) at Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU) today marked a significant milestone with the inauguration of its new Centre for Behavioural Health Sciences at its campus located in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. This state-of-the-art centre is poised to become a pivotal hub for research, education, and intervention in the critical field of behavioural health.
RRU is a national university under India’s Ministry of Home Affairs, focused on security and public safety education. This gives the Centre strong policy linkages for Behavioural Health Sciences and field impact.
SBSFI already runs advanced psychology and forensic programmes with labs and test materials, so the new unit can start work fast.
The inauguration ceremony was graced by a distinguished gathering of dignitaries, both physically present and virtually connected. Physically present at the event were Dr. Yagna Shukla, Chairperson of the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP), India; Dr. Nehal P. Shah, Chairperson, Gujarat State Allied and Healthcare Council (GSAHC); Dr. S.L. Vaya, Lifetime Professor at RRU & Member (GSAHC); Dr. Jasbirkaur Thadhani, University Dean (I/c); and Dr. Noorin Chaudhari, Acting Director, SBSFI, RRU. Joining virtually were Dr. Kavita Narayan, Senior Technical Advisor, HRH for Health Systems at the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, and Dr. Manas Kumar Mandal, Retd. Director General (Life Sciences), DRDO, and Member, NCAHP & Dr.Sowgandhi, ERF, RRU. The presence of such esteemed individuals underscores the national importance and collaborative spirit behind this initiative.
NCAHP is the national regulator for allied and healthcare professions created under the 2021 Act; its presence signals national standards for Behavioural Health Sciences. GSAHC is the state council for Gujarat, aligning state-level regulation with the Centre’s goals.
During an interaction with the media, Dr. Yagna Shukla highlighted the importance of this day, stating, “Today is an important day, in which the competency-based curriculum of applied psychology and behavioural science released by the regulatory body National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions is going to be implemented for the first time in India at Rashtriya Raksha University.” Dr. Shukla extended congratulations to the university for this milestone and for the inauguration of the Centre for Behavioural Health Sciences. She further emphasised that this centre represents a significant milestone and a historic event, a step forward, as it will facilitate the implementation of the curriculum of Applied Psychology and Behavioural Health Science, one of the ten curricula released under the “One Nation, One Curriculum” initiative. Dr. Shukla acknowledged the substantial contributions of Dr. S.L. Vaya (calling her Bhishma Mata)and her colleagues in this endeavour.
NCAHP notified new competency-based curricula, including “Applied Psychology & Behavioural Health,” in April 2025, supporting roll-out at RRU’s Centre for Behavioural Health Sciences.
The broader set includes 10+ allied areas (like physiotherapy, imaging, anaesthesia tech), showing system-wide reform beyond psychology.
Dr. Shukla expressed optimism that this new curriculum will contribute to the nation’s goal of self-reliance, known as ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat.’ A revolutionary aspect of this curriculum is the adaptation of the Indian cultural assessment system for assessment in behavioural health science, which Dr. Shukla described as a “very revolutionary and welcome step.” This initiative is expected to provide a culturally relevant and effective approach to behavioural health education and practice.
India’s health education policy now pushes context-fit, competency-based learning; local assessment tools in Behavioural Health Sciences can improve accuracy and care pathways.
She further highlighted the critical need for this development, explaining, “Because this was very necessary, as this is an assessment tool in our Indian system, which we were unable to implement, but today, with this curriculum through applied psychology and behavioural health science, this tool will be applied for treatment as well as assessment. That is a very big thing, and again, I am congratulating all the team members for designing this curriculum and Rashtriya Raksha University for implementing it.” The implementation of this curriculum is expected to significantly enhance the capabilities for both assessment and treatment in the field of behavioural health in India. With regulator-approved curricula, universities like RRU can standardise training and scale services, narrowing the gap in Behavioural Health Sciences capacity across India.
The establishment of the Centre for Behavioural Health Sciences is expected to significantly enhance the university’s capabilities in research, education, and practical application within the behavioural health domain. This initiative aligns with national efforts to standardise and elevate the quality of education in allied and healthcare professions across India as per NEP. The “One Nation One Curriculum” framework aims to ensure uniformity and high standards in various professional fields, and the implementation of the applied psychology and behavioural science curriculum at RRU is a key part of this vision. As the university of national security studies, RRU’s applied labs and field partners can help test tools in real settings, boosting outcomes in Behavioural Health Sciences.
Whereas, Dr. Nehal Shah, Chairperson of GSAHC, delivered a compelling address, emphasising the burgeoning awareness surrounding mental health issues across the nation. He underscored the urgent imperative to expand the professional reach of mental health services, highlighting the current disparities in access and availability. Dr. Shah further stressed the critical importance of adopting innovative approaches for service delivery, advocating for methods that are both accessible and effective in reaching diverse populations. The establishment of the Centre for Behavioural Health Sciences is expected to serve as a hub for research, training, and community outreach, contributing significantly to the advancement of behavioural health in the region and beyond.
State councils like GSAHC align training with local service needs, helping more people get timely Behavioural Health Sciences support.
During the inaugural ceremony, Dr. Kavita Narayan shared her extensive experience in developing the new National Council for Allied Healthcare Professions (NCAHP) curriculum. She highlighted the collaborative efforts involved in its creation and expressed profound gratitude to Dr. S. L. Vaya for her leadership & invaluable guidance throughout the process. The HRH cell in the Ministry works to plan and deploy trained staff; this will help place Behavioural Health Sciences graduates where they are needed most.
Dr. Manas Mandal, Member NCAHP, addressing the attendees, emphasised the critical role of opportunities, a clear vision, and foundational learning in shaping the next generation of young professionals. He inspired students by quoting Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, stating, “Have dreams with your eyes wide open,” and encouraged them to pursue excellence with unwavering confidence and high standards. Dr. Mandal further underscored the massive societal impact that behavioural sciences are poised to make. Dr. Mandal’s background spans cognitive neuroscience and national research leadership, adding strong mentorship to Behavioural Health Sciences education.
Dr. S.L. Vaya, Member GSAHC & RRU, in her concluding remarks, expressed profound pride, describing the centre as a “dream come true” and marking it as a historic event for behavioural health education in India. Dr. Vaya’s decades of work set up India’s first forensic psychology programmes, laying the groundwork for today’s Behavioural Health Sciences push
