To expand high-quality undergraduate and postgraduate education, advanced research, and tertiary healthcare services, Union Budget 2026 has proposed three All India Institutes of Ayurveda (AIIAs). Building on the success of existing national institutes, these institutions are expected to elevate academic standards and strengthen evidence-based integrative care across the country.

Terming the Budget ‘visionary and future-oriented,’ Union Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Ayush, and Union Minister of State, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Prataprao Jadhav said the measures reflect the Government’s unwavering commitment to building a holistic, inclusive, and globally competitive healthcare system, with Ayush as a vital pillar of integrative health.

Ayush pharmacies, labs to be upgraded: The Budget also proposes upgrading Ayush pharmacies and drug testing laboratories to meet higher certification standards. This step will enhance product quality, boost consumer confidence, improve export readiness, and support farmers cultivating medicinal plants as well as MSMEs engaged in processing and manufacturing.

Upgradation of WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre: Further consolidating India’s global leadership, the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre at Jamnagar will be upgraded to deepen research collaboration, international training, and policy dialogue—positioning India as a global knowledge hub for traditional medicine.

Ayush Centres form part of medical value tourism hubs: In a significant move toward economic integration, Ayush Centres will form part of five proposed Regional Medical Value Tourism Hubs. These hubs will create integrated healthcare destinations combining advanced medical treatment with traditional therapies, wellness services, and rehabilitation support, generating large-scale employment for Ayush practitioners, therapists, yoga trainers, and allied professionals.

Yoga in NSQF: The inclusion of yoga and wellness competencies within The National Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF)-aligned caregiver training programmes—targeting 1.5 lakh caregivers in the coming year—will further mainstream Ayush-linked skills within the expanding care economy, strengthening preventive and geriatric healthcare services.

Highlighting the sector’s progress, Jadhav said, “This Budget builds on that strong foundation—moving from expansion to consolidation, quality enhancement, and global integration. It marks a defining moment where traditional medicine is not complementary but integral to India’s healthcare future.”