01 - During the course of thirty-five years of practice as an architect, I have realized that the system of conducting the professional practice adopted by the Council of Architecture and the Indian Institute of Architects is inconsistent with the actual requirements under the Architects Act, 1972. Therefore I have designed a new system for conducting the professional activity in architecture. This is the first series of modules. At the end of the series, new method designed for conducting professional activity in architecture will be introduced. The earlier modules contain the background information necessary to understand the method completely. The system has been designed to protect the interests of the general public as well as those of the architects. It is ensured that the system suggested for adoption is consistent with the relevant provisions of law.
02 - Architects are expected, after registration under the Architects Act, to be advisers in the matters associated with the works related to the physical development; in other words, construction of any three dimensional object of utility, as opposed to a three-dimensional object for artistic expressions, such as statues or any other sculpture etc. But the object created as per the advice of an architect must be suitable for performing the functions for which it is created.
03 - During the last two centuries, there have been tremendous intrusions by engineers in the construction field formerly occupied by architects alone. In the name of science and technology many parts of the main subject of architecture have been given the status of an independent subject by recognized Universities and they started independent engineering faculties. These universities, because of the developments in various technologies, started more and more specialized technical courses. After this development, persons formerly engaged by architects also started calling themselves as specialist consultants in those subjects, say, civil engineers, mechanical engineers, electrical engineers etc. 
04 - The number of persons so turned out by the universities increased so much that it has obliterated the architectural profession completely. All of these men started calling themselves as “professionals”. The situation became very confusing. During this period, some of the architects started innovative design practices to prove themselves as “special” and creative persons. This has set a personalized trend in architecture. It established distorted ideas about the subject of architecture.
05 - Architecture is the subject dealing with creation of new objects of utility. Like any other creative subject, such as literature, music or drawing and painting, it has three distinct components; namely, the art, the science and the technology. The architects mostly belonging to the last century were influenced by the technological innovations.
06 - Architectural Profession is an entirely different subject. It deals with the art of giving advice to a needy person or a group of individuals. Different professions adopt different modalities; but the common aim is to make available the latest and the tested knowledge in the subject and the experiences in the respective field, so as to ensure protection to the life and property of the general public.07 - The medical profession is one of the oldest professions in societies all over the world. Normally, a person suffering from some ailment or, who has some problems with his body in performing internal or external functions, approaches the medical professional (doctor) for advice about the intake of the necessary medicine to remove the ailment and to restore the body functions to normal. The doctor on his part examines such person to assess the problem, then on the basis of his personal assessment and his knowledge and training in administration of drugs, he advises by writing down a prescription, detailing the drug, its dosage and the period of medication.
08 - This type of activity of giving advice is normally termed as the professional activity. On some occasions, the patient may require constant observation and monitoring of the intake of drugs at regular intervals. In that case, the doctor may provide the nursing facilities in his premises, which is normally called as hospitals/nursing homes. The persons engaged in life-time pursuit of arts and literatures are also termed as the professionals, the in-come from such activities being their only source of livelihood.
09 - Though the architects have acquired the legal authority to the practice of the architectural profession, all of them are gleefully and proudly performing the activities of preparing building plans as per the Development Control Rules and of obtaining building permissions by subjecting their work to scrutiny by the municipal/local authorities; but this cannot be called by any stretch of imagination as the professional activity.
10 - In India there are only four professions recognized and regulated by the Acts of Parliament; namely, the medical, the legal, the accounting and the architectural professions. All of them are expected to give a documented advice, based on their personal knowledge and experience in their respective subjects.
11 - In the field of construction, no person other than architect has the professional status. The activities presently undertaken by architects do not fit into this definition of a professional. But the contents of their drawings and other documents signed by them and submitted to the authorities are likely to be termed by the Courts as the professional advice to their clients in case there happens to be some accident which may require an appropriate legal authority to decide the status of the documents signed by an architect. If architects are not careful enough, such documents might be enough evidence to haul them up for professional negligence. For your own safety you should follow a foolproof system of documentation.