Parliament Question: Overall development of Ayush sector

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AYUSH RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 336 TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.02.2026 Overall development of Ayush sector 336 Smt. Rekha Sharma: Will the Minister of Ayush be pleased to state: (a) the major steps taken by Government since 2014 to transform the Ayush sector into a modern, evidence-based healthcare system; (b) the budgetary allocation to the Ministry of Ayush during the last five years and the outcomes achieved therefrom; (c) the contribution of the Ayush sector to employment generation and the national economy; and (d) the manner in which these initiatives align with the vision of Viksit Bharat? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF AYUSH (SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV) (a) and (b) The Government has undertaken comprehensive measures to advance the Ayush sector and promote it as an evidence-based healthcare system. This includes strengthening the institutional framework through 12 National Institutes and 5 Research Councils under the Ministry of Ayush, as well as establishing statutory bodies such as the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) for Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, and Sowa-Rigpa and the National Commission for Homoeopathy (NCH) for Homeopathy to ensure quality education, regulation, and professional standards. Under the National Ayush Mission (NAM) 12,500 Ayushman Arogya Mandirs(Ayush) have been established across the country, providing community-based wellness, primary healthcare, and comprehensive Ayush services through Ayush systems of medicine. In addition, an Ayush Vertical under the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has been established jointly by the Ministry of Ayush 1and the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare. The Ayush Vertical provides technical support in public health strategy, healthcare delivery, education, training, and research, and also functions as a central repository of Ayush-based public health knowledge. The Government has promoted quality accreditation and standardization of Ayush institutions and service providers through National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers (NABH), Ayurveda Training Accreditation Board (ATAB), and Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), ensuring adherence to best practices in clinical care and education. Quality assurance has been addressed through the development of Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS) for Ayush healthcare facilities, including Ayush hospitals and Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (Ayush). The Ministry of Ayush and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on May 11, 2023, to initiate collaborative research in integrative health. Under this MoU, the ICMR and the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) under the Ministry of Ayush have been funded to set up the Ayush-ICMR Advanced Centre for Integrative Health Research (AI-ACIHR) at AIIMS to conduct research on identified areas focusing on integrative healthcare. The Government has also developed the Ayush Grid as a nationwide digital platform for the management of Ayush data, patient records, research, and health services. Further, the Ministry of Ayush has published an 11-year achievement document titled “From Roots to Global Reach: 11 Years of Transformation in Ayush, 2014-2025”, highlighting the milestones, initiatives, and progress made in the sector. The details of the document are available at the following link: https://www.ayush.gov.in/resources/pdf/11-Years-AYUSH- REPORT-2025.pdf. The details of budgetary allocation of Ministry of Ayush during 2020-21 to 2024-25 attached as Annexure I. (c)and (d) The Ayush sector has significantly contributed to employment generation by creating opportunities for practitioners, researchers, therapists, and professionals across sectors such as pharmaceuticals, wellness centres, medical tourism, and allied services. The sector’s growth has led to a boost in manufacturing and exports, with over 92,653 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises registered in Udyam portal of Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME). The All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), under the 2Ministry of Ayush, has established the AIIA- Incubation Centre for Ayurveda Innovation and Entrepreneurship (AIIA-iCAINE) to mentor and support start-ups and new-age ventures in traditional medicine. To enhance workforce capacity, targeted skill development, certification, and training programmes are implemented under the Health Sector Skill Council (HSSC) Sub-Council on Ayush, ensuring a skilled and competent workforce. These initiatives not only strengthen the Ayush ecosystem and support the national economy, including foreign exchange earnings, but also align with the vision of Viksit Bharat by promoting preventive, holistic, and integrative healthcare, leveraging indigenous knowledge systems, enhancing rural employment, fostering entrepreneurship, and positioning India as a global leader in traditional medicine and wellness. ******* 3Annexure-I Budgetary allocation of Ministry of Ayush during 2020-21 to 2024-25 S.No YEAR Rs. in Crore BE RE AE 1. 2020-21 2122.08 2322.08 2291.98 2. 2021-22 2970.30 2664.42 2538.42 3. 2022-23 3050.00 2845.75 2663.30 4. 2023-24 3647.50 3000.00 2916.31 5. 2024-25 3712.49 3497.64 3468.64 BE-Budget Estimate RE-Revised Estimate AE-Actual Expenditure 4