The 11th Ayurveda Day was celebrated nationally in Nagpur, Maharashtra on September 23, 2026, with the theme 'Ayurveda for a Healthier Tomorrow'. The event featured significant policy launches and scientific discussions aimed at advancing Ayurveda's integration into mainstream healthcare.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's message highlighted Ayurveda's expansion beyond India's borders through the AYUSH Visa facility, enabling foreign nationals to seek AYUSH treatments in India. He emphasized Ayurveda's journey from tradition to evidence-based innovation for future generations' health security.
Union Minister Prataprao Jadhav emphasized that health begins at home rather than hospitals, and lifestyle is the foundation of health rather than medicine. He cited the Ayurvedic principle of preserving health alongside treatment as increasingly relevant amid rising lifestyle-related health concerns.
Key launches included the first-ever Report on the 'Ayush Services Sector' prepared by Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS), providing an assessment of the Ayush services sector. 'From Traditional Wisdom to Global Leadership: Ayush Vision 2030' was unveiled, outlining the strategic direction for Ayush systems. Safety Dossiers were launched for Gokshura (Tribulus terrestris) and Chandrasura (Lepidium sativum) medicinal plants, along with Standard Treatment Guidelines (STGs) on Skin Disorders. The CCRAS-AGNI Assessment Scale Web Portal was also launched to strengthen research documentation.
The event featured Ayush Quality Mark Certification awarded to four eligible industries, reflecting the ministry's emphasis on quality and standardization. A National Medicinal Plants Exhibition showcased stalls by national institutions under the Ministry of Ayush.
Scientific sessions included 'Shashwatam to Vishwas – Ayurveda for a Healthier Tomorrow and the Road to 2047' by Dr. G. Geethakrishnan Pillai, Unit Head of WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre in Jamnagar, focusing on evidence generation and Ayurveda's role in health vision towards 2047. The second session 'Integrating Therapies is needed to reduce NCD Burden by 2027' featured Dr. Shiv Kumar Sarin, Director of Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences (ILBS), discussing integrated therapeutic approaches for non-communicable diseases.
Secretary Rajesh Kotecha emphasized connecting Ayurveda's knowledge tradition with scientific evidence, innovation, and public health outcomes, noting over 43,000 research publications on the Ayush Research Portal and more than 200 BIS standards with Ayush Quality Mark. International developments highlighted included WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre in Jamnagar, ITRA Jamnagar's recognition as Institute of National Importance, and inclusion of Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani in WHO ICD-11 classification.