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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AYUSH
RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED ADMITTED QUESTION NO. 333
TO BE ANSWERED ON 03/02/2026
Development of a national framework for AI enabled services
333 Dr. Sikander Kumar:
Will the Minister of Ayush be pleased to state:
(a) the details of Government's roadmap to develop a national framework for AI-enabled
farm-gate quality assessment and blockchain traceability, as recommended by recent
expert seminars;
(b) the details of specific budget allocations and support mechanisms planned for
developing and maintaining portable AI devices and training programmes;
(c) whether digital roadmap help Indian medicinal plants gain better global market access
and command premium pricing, if so, the details thereof; and
(d) whether any penalties would be enforced for non compliance or data tampering within
these digital supply chains, if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF AYUSH
(SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV)
(a) The medicinal plant sector is a strategic priority for the Ministry of Ayush, given its
relevance to medicinal plant conservation, and export potential. Quality assessment of
medicinal plant raw materials at the farm gate is a critical intervention point to traceability
across the value chain. Recently, National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB), Ministry of Ayush
has supported a National Seminar on “Design and Development of Tools for Quality
Assessment of Medicinal Plants at Farm Gates” to bring together policymakers, scientists,
1technologists, industry stakeholders, and academicians with the aim to explore technological,
design-led, digital interventions, particularly Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Blockchain to
strengthen quality assurance mechanisms at the source to ensure supply chain traceability of
medicinal plants.
(b) There are no specific budget allocations for support mechanisms planned for developing and
maintaining portable AI devices and training programmes. However, NMPB, Ministry of Ayush,
is implementing Central Sector Scheme on “Conservation, Development and Sustainable
Management of Medicinal Plants” throughout the country wherein there is a provision to support
Information Education & Communication (IEC) activities like Training / Workshops / Seminars/
Conferences, in project mode. Apart from this, the scheme also has provisions to support
Research and Development (R&D) activities in project mode on various aspects of medicinal
plants, including development of agro-techniques, sustainable harvesting practices, traceability
and development of reference materials through a Raw Drug Repository.
(c) No such specific information is available. However, to provide a digital platform for trade
of Medicinal Plants among farmers, industries, other stakeholders and to provide easy market
access NMPB, Ministry of Ayush has launched “e-CHARAK” mobile application as well as
web portal for the promotion and marketing of medicinal plants raw material.
(d) No.
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