Vice President of India Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan inaugurated the third edition of the international conference on Kaumarabhritya, KAUMARACON-2026, organized by the All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), New Delhi. During the event, which coincided with AIIA's 10th Foundation Day, the Vice President called for greater scientific research into Ayurveda to establish the efficacy of traditional healthcare practices, strengthen patient confidence, and enhance global acceptance of India's traditional medicine systems.
He highlighted Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of developing AIIA on par with AIIMS and noted the institute was moving toward realizing this vision. The Vice President emphasized the importance of sustained efforts in research, innovation, and academic excellence to strengthen the institute's standing. He noted that India's traditional medicine systems represent a valuable legacy rooted in civilizational wisdom and centuries-old knowledge traditions, referencing the establishment of the separate Ministry of AYUSH in 2014 and its efforts to strengthen education, expand healthcare services, and promote scientific research.
The Vice President highlighted interdisciplinary collaborations between the Ministry of AYUSH and institutions including ICMR, CSIR, DBT, DST, and AIIMS, noting that integration of AYUSH services in premier medical institutions creates opportunities for dialogue and collaboration between traditional and modern healthcare systems. He also noted international recognition of Yoga and the establishment of the WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine in Jamnagar as important milestones.
Regarding the conference theme "Shaping the Future of Child Health: Global Perspectives, Research Innovations, and Clinical Frontiers in Kaumarabhritya," the Vice President stressed that children require particular attention to nutrition, growth, development, disease prevention, and emotional well-being. He stated that building a Viksit Bharat by 2047 requires sustained attention to children's health and quality of human capital, calling upon researchers and practitioners to preserve traditional wisdom, strengthen it through scientific validation, and place child health at the center of their efforts.
During the event, the Vice President inaugurated five digital initiatives: the AYUSH Start-up Portal, the AIIA–iCAINE website, the Ayurveda Digital Innovation and Venture Acceleration Facility (AyuDIVA), the Vamana App, and the Panchakarma Assessment App. An international Memorandum of Understanding between Maharishi International University (MIU), USA, and AIIA, New Delhi, was also exchanged in his presence.
Earlier, the Vice President visited the hospital facilities of AIIA and Dhanwantari Vatika, where he was briefed on the institute's contributions to public health and the Ayurvedic significance of various medicinal plants, herbs, and rocks. The event was attended by Shri Prataprao Jadhav (Minister of State for AYUSH and Health and Family Welfare), Shri Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha (Secretary, Ministry of AYUSH), Dr. Maneesha Upendra (Chairperson, National Commission for Indian System of Medicine), Professor P. K. Prajapati (Director, AIIA, New Delhi), and other dignitaries, researchers, faculty members, and students.