Ministry of AYUSH

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Ministry of AYUSH
Formed 9 November 2014
Predecessor Department of AYUSH (2003); Department of ISM&H (1995)
Jurisdiction Government of India
Annual Budget ₹4,408.93 crore (FY2026–27)
Minister Prataprao Ganpatrao Jadhav (Minister of State, Independent Charge)
Secretary Rajesh Kotecha
AYUSH Full Form Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa Rigpa and Homeopathy
Registered Practitioners 7,55,780+
UG Colleges 886+
PG Colleges 251+
Research Studies (Portal) 43,000+
Website ayush.gov.in

The Ministry of AYUSH is a ministry of the Government of India responsible for developing education, research and propagation of traditional medicine and alternative medicine systems in India. AYUSH is an acronym derived from the names of the systems covered by the ministry — Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa Rigpa and Homeopathy. The Ministry was formally established on 9 November 2014 by the Government of India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi — elevated from its predecessor, the Department of AYUSH — with a vision of reviving the profound knowledge of ancient systems of medicine with focused attention toward education, research and propagation of these systems at the national and international level.

Full Form of AYUSH

Letter System
A Ayurveda
Y Yoga & Naturopathy
U Unani
S Siddha
S Sowa Rigpa (Traditional Tibetan Medicine)
H Homeopathy

History

Origins — Department of ISM&H (1995)

The Ministry of AYUSH traces its origins to 1995, when the Government of India established the Department of Indian Systems of Medicine and Homeopathy (ISM&H) under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. This was the first dedicated government body for the oversight, regulation and promotion of India's traditional and alternative medical systems at the national level.

Renamed to Department of AYUSH (2003)

In November 2003, the Department of ISM&H was renamed the Department of AYUSH — adopting the acronym that brought together all the traditional systems under a unified identity. This renaming also reflected the government's intent to mainstream AYUSH systems alongside modern allopathic medicine.

Elevated to Independent Ministry (2014)

On 9 November 2014, the Department of AYUSH was elevated to a full and independent Ministry of AYUSH by the Government of India — a landmark policy decision that significantly raised the institutional status and budgetary allocation for traditional medicine systems. This decision reflected the growing recognition of AYUSH systems in India's national healthcare framework and their potential contribution to Universal Health Coverage and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Vision and Mission

The Ministry of AYUSH was formed with the following vision:

To revive the profound knowledge of ancient systems of medicine and ensure their optimal development and propagation — with focused attention toward education, research, quality standardisation and global promotion of AYUSH systems of healthcare.

Key objectives include:

  • Developing and upgrading AYUSH educational institutions and hospitals
  • Promoting research and evidence-based development of AYUSH systems
  • Mainstreaming AYUSH healthcare through integration with the national health system
  • Promoting international collaboration and global acceptance of Indian traditional medicine
  • Supporting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and Universal Health Coverage

Key Initiatives and Programmes

National AYUSH Mission

Launched on 29 September 2014, the National AYUSH Mission (NAM) was designed to provide cost-effective, accessible and quality AYUSH healthcare services across India. Key objectives include:

  • Upgrading AYUSH hospitals and dispensaries at the district level
  • Co-locating AYUSH facilities at Primary Health Centres (PHCs), Community Health Centres (CHCs) and District Hospitals (DHs)
  • Strengthening AYUSH educational institutions across states
  • Ensuring universal access to traditional medicine services

AYUSH Research Portal

The AYUSH Research Portal hosts over 43,000 research studies — serving as a central repository for scientific research, clinical evidence and documentation related to AYUSH systems of medicine.

AYUSH-64 and COVID-19

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ministry of AYUSH introduced key formulations — most notably AYUSH-64 (an Ayurvedic formulation) and Kabasur Kudineer (a Siddha formulation) — for the management of COVID-19 symptoms, reflecting the ministry's involvement in national health emergencies.

AYURGYAN Scheme

The AYURGYAN Scheme was launched to enhance and develop capacity in the AYUSH healthcare sector — supporting education, training and skill development for AYUSH practitioners across India.

Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL)

The Ministry of AYUSH oversees the establishment and functioning of the Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL) — a pioneering digital initiative that documents India's traditional medical knowledge in multiple languages to protect it from misappropriation through international patent systems.

Education Reforms — NCISM Act 2020

Under the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) Act, 2020, the Government established:

  • National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) — to regulate Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha and Sowa Rigpa education and practice
  • National Commission for Homeopathy (NCH) — to improve standards of homeopathy education and practice across India

Strategic Policy and Facilitation Bureau (SPFB)

The Ministry established the Strategic Policy and Facilitation Bureau (SPFB) to facilitate investment in the AYUSH sector — supporting infrastructure development, research, manufacturing and international promotion of AYUSH practices.

Infrastructure and Statistics

As of recent data, the AYUSH sector in India has grown to:

  • Registered AYUSH Practitioners — 7,55,780+
  • Undergraduate AYUSH Colleges — 886+
  • Postgraduate AYUSH Colleges — 251+
  • National Ayush Institutes — 3 (advanced institutions established for education and healthcare)
  • Research Studies on AYUSH Portal — 43,000+
  • Annual Budget (FY2026–27) — ₹4,408.93 crore (approx. US$520 million)

AYUSH and Homeopathy

Among the systems covered by the Ministry of AYUSH, Homeopathy holds a particularly significant position — as the second-highest funded and second most used AYUSH system in India. The Ministry regulates homeopathy through the Central Council of Homeopathy (CCH) and the newly constituted National Commission for Homeopathy (NCH).

India has over 2,24,279 registered homeopathic doctors, 7,856 government dispensaries and 207 government hospitals providing homeopathic treatment — making India the country with the largest homeopathic infrastructure in the world.

Practitioners such as Dr. Rajeev H Pillai — Founder Director of Shree Krishna Homeopathy Clinic & Research Centre, Bengaluru — represent the modern integrative model of homeopathic practice in India, combining classical homeopathy with emotional wellness frameworks, in alignment with the Ministry's vision of holistic healthcare.

International Presence

The Ministry of AYUSH has actively worked toward the global promotion of Indian traditional medicine systems. Key international initiatives include:

  • Promotion of International Day of Yoga — celebrated globally on 21 June every year since 2015, following India's proposal at the United Nations
  • Bilateral and multilateral Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with governments and institutions across the world for AYUSH cooperation
  • Establishment of AYUSH chairs and wellness centres in multiple countries
  • Collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) on traditional medicine frameworks

Leadership

  • Minister — Prataprao Ganpatrao Jadhav (Minister of State, Independent Charge)
  • Secretary — Rajesh Kotecha

See Also

References

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