The Reviewing System in vogue at ICMR is outlined in the above Chart. The President of the Governing Body of the ICMR is the Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare, the Health Secretary being the Vice-President. The Governing Body comprises eminent scientists / public health experts as also elected members of the Parliament.

The Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) of the ICMR is the highest technical body which reviews the work of ICMR (in its totality) and advises the ICMR on both short term and long term research policies, strategies, thrust areas of research etc.

Each of the ICMR Institutes / Centres has, a Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) which comprises of experts (subject specialists) in the specific areas of research undertaken by the specific Institute/Centre. The full SAC meets at least once a year while the members interact with the Institute throughout the year.

Each of the five Technical Divisions at the ICMR Hrs. (Epidemiology & Communicable Diseases, Non-communicable Diseases, Reproductive Health and Nutrition, Basic Medical Sciences and Publications & Information) has a Scientific Advisory Group (SAG) which meets annually and is composed of experts in the respective fields. The SAGs essentially review the extramural activities of the concerned Divisions, and also deliberate on the linkages between intramural and extramural research activities.

The reports of the SACs of Institutes and SAGs of Technical Divisions of ICMR headquarters are placed before the SAB for its consideration, while the report & recommendations of the SAB are placed before the Governing Body. The Government of India constituted Review Committees which looked into the working of the ICMR from the scientific, administrative and financial angles, including the working conditions of staff etc. in the late 1960s and the early 1980s. The last Reviewing Committee of the ICMR submitted its report in 1984.