Ayush Ministry to seek proposals to set up Ayurveda Institutes

Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for AYUSH, Prataprao Jadhav, said on Monday (February 2, 2026) that the Ministry will soon seek proposals from States to set up the three new All India Institutes of Ayurveda (AIIAs) announced in the Union Budget 2026–27.

“This will be a massive exercise as all States are keen to have an AIIA which would bring in enhanced healthcare, more skilled manpower and focused research,’’ said the Minister, speaking exclusively to The Hindu. The AIIAs will help expand high-quality undergraduate and postgraduate education, advanced research, and tertiary care services, he added. 

These institutions are also expected to strengthen evidence-based integrative care across the country.

The Budget allocation for AYUSH, which saw a 10% increase from ₹3,671.82 crore (Revised Estimates) in FY 2025-26 to ₹4,408.93 crore in FY 2026-27, was a clear indication of the growing importance of the sector, the Minister noted, adding that the sector was also looking at upgrading AYUSH pharmacies, setting up more drug-testing labs and adding skilled manpower to traditional medicine.

“While the Budget is a major boost to India’s traditional systems of medicine, our priority areas are upgrading AYUSH institutes, providing quality education and offering evidence-based treatment which will cement our role as world leaders in traditional medicine,’’ said the Minister.

He noted that the Ministry is looking at bringing in courses for AYUSH pharmacists and nurses. “This support staff is required to ensure that quality healthcare is provided across the country. We are also looking at documenting all traditional healers to ensure quality and standardised treatment,’’ said the Minister.

Upgrading of the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre at Jamnagar is in the pipeline to bring in research collaboration and training. “This will consolidate India’s global leadership as the global knowledge hub for traditional medicine,’’ he said.

In another significant step, AYUSH centres will be part of five proposed Regional Medical Value Tourism Hubs, to create integrated healthcare destinations that combine advanced medical treatment with traditional therapies, wellness services, and rehabilitation support. 

“This initiative is expected to generate large-scale employment for AYUSH practitioners, therapists, yoga trainers, and allied professionals. The inclusion of yoga and wellness competencies within NSQF [National Skills Qualifications Framework]-aligned caregiver training programmes, targeting 1.5 lakh caregivers in the coming year, further mainstreams AYUSH-linked skills within the expanding care economy, strengthening preventive and geriatric care services,’’ said the Minister.

Mr. Jadhav, emphasising the broader economic impact of such measures, said the announcements link health policy with rural livelihoods, export growth, youth employment, and entrepreneurship, and would strengthen India’s role as the world capital of evidence-based holistic healthcare.