Government Ayurveda Infrastructure Expansion and Integration

The Indian government has implemented a comprehensive strategy to integrate Ayurveda into mainstream healthcare through substantial infrastructure development and funding initiatives. Between financial years 2014-15 and 2025-26, the Central Government released over ₹6,406.99 crore through the National Ayush Mission (NAM) to states and union territories for integrating Ayush healthcare into conventional medical systems. This has resulted in the establishment of 12,260 functional Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (Ayush) as of September 19, 2026, with a target of 12,500 facilities. The National Health Mission supports Ayush services in 13,249 public health facilities nationwide, including 6,302 Primary Health Centres, 3,191 Community Health Centres, 475 District Hospitals, and 3,281 other local health facilities as of December 30, 2025.

Healthcare Workforce and Service Integration

The government funds salaries for 25,322 Ayush doctors and 5,666 Ayush paramedics working across various states and union territories. Ayurveda practitioners (Bachelor of Ayurveda, Medicine and Surgery graduates) can serve as Community Health Officers to manage village-level primary healthcare centres. The government has established Departments of Integrative Medicine at Vardhman Mahavir Medical College & Safdarjung Hospital and Lady Hardinge Medical College, providing preventive, promotive, and therapeutic medical services including fully functional Panchakarma units. Extended OPD services by Ayush Research Councils are available at these facilities plus Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital and the new All India Institute of Medical Sciences.

Digital Healthcare and Insurance Coverage

The eSanjeevani telemedicine service has served over 50 crore patients, offering Ayush OPD services alongside conventional medicine. In 2024, IRDAI mandated that all insurers must offer products or add-ons covering all systems of medicine including Ayurveda. On February 10, 2026, the All-India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), New Delhi, signed a Common Empanelment MoU with the General Insurance Council, empaneling AIIA with all 32 general insurance companies in India—the first such universal empanelment for an Ayush institution. A dedicated Ayush Health Insurance Helpline (1800-11-0008) was launched to assist beneficiaries.

Educational Infrastructure Development

The NAM supports expansion of Ayurveda education through establishment of undergraduate and postgraduate institutions. Seventeen Ayush colleges have been approved under NAM, with 12 focused on Ayurvedic education. As of March 13, 2026, there are 593 Ayurveda colleges nationwide offering 45,245 undergraduate seats and 5,673 post-graduate seats. The SPARK Programme (Studentship Programme for Ayurveda Research Ken) has benefited 289 Ayurveda colleges between 2022-23 and 2024-25, fostering research interest among undergraduate students.

Research and Development Initiatives

The AYURGYAN scheme, launched in 2021-22, provides financial backing for R&D with total research funding of ₹17.79 crore across 34 projects. Ayurveda accounts for half of this portfolio, receiving ₹9.38 crore for 17 dedicated projects. By early 2026, 11 specific research projects had been approved, with six focused on developing safety and efficacy dossiers for five key single Ayurvedic botanicals. The AYUR SWASTHYA Yojana (2021-2026) provided financial assistance to government or non-profit Ayush organizations, with 22 out of 25 projects focusing on or incorporating Ayurveda interventions. The scheme established 28 specialised Centres of Excellence, with 22 dedicated to Ayurveda-centric research.

Regulatory Framework and Quality Control

Ayurvedic medicines are regulated under the Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940, and Drugs Rules, 1945, requiring manufacturers to adhere to Good Manufacturing Practices, prove drug safety and efficacy, and meet pharmacopoeia standards. Government Drug Inspectors conduct routine sampling and testing supported by a specialised Ayush vertical within CDSCO. The e-Aushadhi portal enables paperless processing and real-time tracking of drug manufacturing license applications. FSSAI, in collaboration with the Ministry of Ayush, introduced standardized regulation for Ayurveda Aahara, establishing a product list of authentic Ayurvedic dietary items based on classical texts.

International Collaboration and Global Outreach

India has signed 27 country-to-country MoUs for cooperation in traditional medicine and Homoeopathy, 16 MoUs with international institutes for setting up Ayush Academic Chairs, and 57 institute-to-institute MoUs for collaborative research and academics. In 2025-26, three country-to-country MoUs were signed with Angola, Kazakhstan, and Tanzania, plus six institute-level MoUs with institutions in Ghana, South Africa, Réunion Island, Germany, Malaysia, and Mongolia. Forty-six Ayush Information Cells operate across 43 foreign nations, and 104 scholarships were offered to foreign nationals under the International Ayush Fellowship/Scholarship Program.

Global Leadership and Policy Development

New Delhi hosted the Second WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine in December 2025 at Bharat Mandapam, gathering delegates from over 100 countries and 22 health ministers. Attendees adopted the Delhi Declaration encouraging member states to integrate traditional medicine into primary healthcare. The WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre in Jamnagar, Gujarat, serves as a primary research and policy hub. The Ministry of Ayush partnered with WHO to create standard training guides for Ayurveda and Unani, and co-hosted an herbal drug regulation workshop with 17 nations.

Union Budget 2026-27 Allocations

The Union Budget 2026-27 allocated ₹4,408 crores for the Ministry of Ayush to strengthen healthcare systems, promote evidence-based research and innovation, and enhance infrastructure and global outreach. Key initiatives include establishment of three new All India Institutes of Ayurveda (AIIA), upgradation of Ayush pharmacies and Drug Testing Laboratories, and upgradation of the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre in Jamnagar.