Parliament Question: Research and Development Projects in Ayurveda

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AYUSH LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3602 TO BE ANSWERED ON 13th MARCH, 2026 “Research and Development Projects in Ayurveda” 3602. Shri Mani A: Will the Minister of AYUSH be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government has taken any steps to strengthen and expedite various Research and Development (R&D) projects in Ayurveda during the last three years and if so, the details thereof; (b) the number of Ayurveda R&D projects sanctioned or supported in Tamil Nadu during the said period, particularly those focusing on traditional medicinal formulations and disease management; (c) the details of the funds allocated for Ayurveda research and capacity building in Tamil Nadu during the last three years; (d) whether any Ayurveda research centres, collaborative projects and field research units have been established / are proposed to be set up in Dharmapuri district under the aegis of the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), if so, the details thereof; and (e) the steps taken by the Government to promote scientific validation, innovation and research on local medicinal plants in Dharmapuri Parliamentary constituency? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF AYUSH (SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV) (a) The Ministry of Ayush is implementing a Central Sector Scheme, namely, Ayurgyan Scheme since 2021-2022 having three components viz. (i) Capacity Building & Continuing Medical Education (CME) in Ayush (ii) Research & Innovation in Ayush and (iii) Ayurveda Page 1 of 3Biology Integrated Health Research (ABIHR) was also added under the scheme from the year 2023-2024 as a third component. Being a Central Sector Scheme, the scheme is not specific to any State / UT. Under the Research & Innovation (R&I) in Ayush and ABIHR component of Ayurgyan scheme, financial assistance is provided to eligible organizations for conducting research and development activities as per provisions contained in the scheme guidelines. Under R & I and ABIHR components, a total of 16 (R&D) projects in Ayurveda has been supported during last three years from 2022-2023 to 2024-2025. In addition, research council under Ministry of Ayush namely Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) also undertake research activities through their 30 Institutes / Centres located all over India and through collaborative studies with various Universities, Hospitals, and Institutes. The research activities of the Council include Medicinal Plant Research, Drug Standardization, Pharmacological Research, Clinical Research, Literary Research & Documentation and Tribal Health Care Research Programme. CCRAS has completed 189 projects in the past three years. The Council have been completed 53 projects till 31st January 2026 and 232 projects are ongoing. The Council has three journals named Journal of Drug Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (JDRAS), Journal of Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (JRAS), and Journal of Indian Medical Heritage (JIMH), which are also available electronically in the public domain free of cost to enable dissemination of the outcomes of research among the public. The Council also publishes the CCRAS Bulletin on a quarterly basis for the dissemination of research outcomes for the general public. Besides, the Council also publishes books, monographs, and technical reports, and they are being sold or distributed to disseminate research outcomes and merits of Ayurveda at large. Further, the National Institute of Ayurveda (NIA) is also having research facilities i.e. (i) Drug Discovery & Development Unit (DDDU) which has been established in the year 2021 to develop at least ten new drugs in the next 10 years. (ii) Advanced Human Physiology Lab (AHPL) established with the goal of possessing state-of-the-art scientific infrastructure and advanced instruments to conduct research based on empirical evidence, and (iii) Central Laboratory, NIA, Jaipur with a vision to provide Quality Medical Laboratory services and in- house facility for research in the Institute. One of the Ayurveda Institute i.e. North Eastern Institute of Ayurveda and Homoeopathy (NEIAH), established in North-East (Shillong, Meghalaya) in 2008 with an aim Page 2 of 3and objectives to undertake and promote teaching and research in the fields of Ayurveda and Homoeopathy. The All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), an autonomous organization under the Ministry of Ayush, being an important higher educational institute of Ayurveda in the country is accredited with the national quality indicators like NAAC++ in academics and NABH for hospital. The institute has implemented the measures to enhance quality of R & D activities including publication are (i) Establishment of key research infrastructure: The institute has commissioned crucial research infrastructure with state-of-the-art modern technology & instrumentations and (ii) Measures to improve the evidence-based research in Ayurveda to enhance global acceptability. (b) During the period, one project on Ayurveda under the AYURGYAN Scheme has been sanctioned to the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Chennai, located in Tamil Nadu. The project is titled “Effect of Ghee from Indigenous Cow Milk on Cognition and Neuro-protection against Alzheimer’s disease. (c) During the last three years from 2022-2023 to 2024-2025 under Capacity Building and CME in Ayush Component, funds amounting to Rs.122.50 lakhs were released to various organizations/institutions situated in the State of Tamil Nadu to conduct 15 training programmes. During the year 2022-2023, under R & I component, funds amounting to Rs. 14.49 lakh was released to 01 institution namely IIT, Chennai situated in Tamil Nadu, for conducting Research in Ayurveda. (d) & (e) At present no such proposal is under consideration to set up any Ayurveda research centres, collaborative projects and field research units in Dharmapuri district under the aegis of the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS). However, two peripheral Institutes namely, Captain Srinivasa Murthy Central Ayurveda Research Institute, Arumbakkam, Chennai and Dr. Achanta Lakshmipati Regional Ayurveda Research Institute, Taramani, Chennai under the CCRAS are functioning in Chennai. At present, CCRAS is not carrying out scientific validation, innovation and research on local medicinal plants in Dharmapuri Parliamentary constituency. **** Page 3 of 3