The Union Budget 2026–27 has positioned Ayush as a central pillar of India’s integrative healthcare framework, with a series of measures aimed at strengthening education, research, quality standards, skilled workforce development, and global outreach of traditional systems of medicine.
Welcoming the announcements, Union Minister of State for Ayush Prataprao Jadhav on Monday said the Budget reflects the government’s commitment to building a holistic and inclusive healthcare system in which Ayush plays a substantive role alongside modern medicine.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, in her Budget speech on Sunday, outlined initiatives covering Ayush education, research, quality assurance, medical value tourism, and workforce skilling. The measures aim to strengthen preventive healthcare while positioning India as a global leader in evidence-based traditional medicine.
A key proposal is the establishment of three new All India Institutes of Ayurveda (AIIAs), intended to expand undergraduate and postgraduate education, advanced research, and tertiary care services. The government said the new institutes would build on the experience of existing national institutions and help strengthen evidence-based integrative care across the country.
The Budget also proposes upgrading Ayush pharmacies and drug testing laboratories to higher certification standards. Officials said the move is expected to improve product quality, boost consumer confidence, and enhance export readiness, while supporting farmers engaged in medicinal plant cultivation and MSMEs involved in processing and manufacturing.
India’s global engagement in traditional medicine is also set to deepen, with the proposed upgrade of the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre in Jamnagar. The centre is expected to expand research collaboration, international training, and policy dialogue, reinforcing India’s position as a global knowledge hub for traditional medicine.
In a bid to integrate Ayush with economic and tourism initiatives, the Budget proposes inclusion of Ayush Centres within five Regional Medical Value Tourism Hubs. These hubs are envisaged as integrated healthcare destinations combining advanced medical treatment with traditional therapies, wellness services, and rehabilitation, with potential employment opportunities for practitioners, therapists, yoga trainers, and allied professionals.
The Budget also provides for the inclusion of yoga and wellness competencies within National Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF)-aligned caregiver training programmes. The initiative targets training of 1.5 lakh caregivers in the coming year and aims to strengthen preventive, rehabilitative, and geriatric care services.
Jadhav said the Ayush sector has seen substantial institutional growth, global recognition, and research expansion over the past decade. He said the latest Budget marks a shift from expansion to consolidation, with emphasis on quality enhancement and global integration.
The Minister added that the measures link healthcare policy with rural livelihoods, exports, employment generation, and entrepreneurship, contributing to India’s emergence as a global centre for evidence-based holistic healthcare.
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