Lok Sabha Question No. 3439 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-08
Subject: Promotion of Ayurveda for Holistic Healthcare
Ministry: AYUSH
Asked by: Prof. Sougata Ray

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AYUSH

## LOK  SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3439 TO BE ANSWERED ON 08 th  AUGUST, 2025

## 'Promotion of Ayurveda for Holistic Healthcare'

## 3439. Prof. Sougata Ray:

Will the Minister of Ayush be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  promotion  of  Ayurveda  is  crucial  for  public  health  due  to  its  potential  in preventing  and  managing  chronic  diseases,  supporting  mental  health  and  providing holistic care for maternal and child health, as well as communicable diseases;
- (b)  if  so,  the  details  thereof  alongwith  the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  so  far  for  the promotion of Ayurveda in the country, State-wise;
- (c) whether Ayurveda emphasis on lifestyle and dietary management aligns with the growing need for holistic and sustainable healthcare solutions and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) if so, whether the Government has any proposal to include basic ayurvedic principles in the curriculum of schools and if so, the details thereof;
- (e) whether the Government has any proposal to encourage Ayurveda for a holistic approach to mental well-being, incorporating practices like yoga, meditation and herbal treatments; and
- (f) if so, the details thereof alongwith the steps taken by the Government for the well being of Ayurveda in the country?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF AYUSH

## (SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV)

(a)  & (b) Yes, with the view to fulfil the mandate of promotion and propagation of Ayush System of Healthcare, the Ministry implements a Central Sector Scheme for Promotion of Information  Education  and  Communication  (IEC)  in Ayush.  Under  this  Scheme,  Ministry organises  National/State  level Arogya  Fairs, Yoga  Fests/Utsavs, Ayurveda  Parvs,  Celebrate important days of Ayush system, Participate in Health fairs/melas, Exhibitions etc,  provide financial assistance for organising seminars, workshops, conferences and conduct multimedia campaigns etc. to create awareness among citizens regarding Ayush system of health care and healing.

Besides,  the  Ministry  is  implementing  the  Centrally  Sponsored  Scheme  of  National Ayush Mission  (NAM)  through  State/UT  Governments  for  development  &  promotion  of  Ayush

System in the country and providing financial assistance to them as per the proposal received in  their  State  Annual  Action  Plans  (SAAPs).  State/UT  Governments  may  avail  financial assistance by submitting proposals through SAAPs as per NAM guidelines.

Moreover,  for  the  purpose  of  promotion  of  Ayurveda  for  holistic  healthcare,  Ministry  of Ayush  has  established  01  (one)  Research  Council  and  7  (seven)  National  Institutes  for Ayurveda, as per details at Annexure-I . These Councils/Institutions alongwith their peripheral institutes/units/centres are providing treatment through General Outpatient Department  (OPD),  Reproductive  and  Child  Health  (RCH)  OPD,  Geriatric  OPD,  NonCommunicable  Disease  (NCD)  Clinic  etc.  and  also  engaged  in  awareness  activities  to promote Ayurveda. The details of activities to promote Ayurveda by Research Council and National Institutions under the Ministry of Ayush are mentioned at Annexure-II .

(c) Yes,  National  Institutes  of  Ayurveda  under  the  Ministry  of  Ayush  emphasis  on lifestyle  and  dietary  management  strongly  aligns  with  the  growing  global  need  for  holistic and sustainable healthcare solutions through:-

-  Alignment with Holistic & Sustainable Healthcare.
-  Personalized Lifestyle Regimens: Ayurveda promotes individualized routines (Dinacharya), seasonal adjustments (Ritucharya), and balanced living.
-  A  wholesome  diet (Pathya  Ahara) is central to both disease prevention and management.
-  Emphasizes early intervention through daily habits, stress management, and detoxification (e.g., Panchakarma).
-  Yoga,  meditation,  and Satvavajaya  Chikitsa,  which  are  increasingly  recognized  in managing stress-related disorders.

(d) No such  proposal  to  include  basic Ayurveda  principles  in  the  school  curriculum  is under consideration.

(e)  &  (f) Yes , with the  view to  fulfil  the  mandate  of  promotion  and  propagation  of Ayush System of Healthcare, the Ministry implements a Central Sector Scheme for Promotion of Information  Education  and  Communication  (IEC)  in Ayush.  Under  this  Scheme,  Ministry organises  National/State  level Arogya  Fairs, Yoga  Fests/Utsavs, Ayurveda  Parvs,  Celebrate important days of Ayush system, Participate in Health fairs/melas, Exhibitions etc,  provide financial assistance for organising seminars, workshops, conferences and conduct multimedia campaigns etc. to create awareness among citizens regarding Ayush system of health care and healing.

Further, for the purpose of promotion of Ayurveda for holistic healthcare, Ministry of Ayush has established 01 (one) Research Council and 07 (seven) National Institutes for Ayurveda, as per details at Annexure-I . These Councils/Institutions alongwith their peripheral institutes/units/centres  are  providing  treatment  through  General  Outpatient  Department (OPD),  Reproductive  and  Child  Health  (RCH)  OPD,  Geriatric  OPD,  Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) Clinic etc. and also engaged in awareness activities to promote Ayurveda.

****

## Details of Research Councils and National Institutes Functioning under the Ministry of Ayush

## Research Councils:

|   Sl. No. | Name of Research Council                                   |
|-----------|------------------------------------------------------------|
|         1 | Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) |

## National Institutes:

|   Sl. No. | Name of Institute                                                                   |
|-----------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|         1 | National Institute of Ayurveda (NIA)  Jaipur  Panchkula (Satellite Centre)        |
|         2 | All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA)  New Delhi  Goa (Satellite Centre)         |
|         3 | Rashtriya Ayurveda Vidyapeeth (RAV), Delhi                                          |
|         4 | Institute of Teaching &Research in Ayurveda (ITRA), Jamnagar                        |
|         5 | National Institute of Sowa Rigpa (NISR), Leh                                        |
|         6 | North Eastern Institute of Ayurveda &Homoeopathy (NEIAH), Shillong                  |
|         7 | North Eastern Institute of Ayurveda and Folk Medicine Research (NEIAFMR), Pasighat. |

## Activities to promote Ayurveda by Research Council and National Institutes

(1) The Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), has undertaken a wide range of initiatives to promote scientific research in the Ayurveda system of medicine. CCRAS  functions  through  a  nationwide  network  of  30  peripheral  Institutes/Centres  and collaborates  with  various  universities,  hospitals,  and  research  bodies  to  implement  and advance Ayurveda research on scientific lines.

The CCRAS as the apex organization for research in Ayurveda under the Ministry of Ayush,  has  initiated  a  wide  range  of  research  and  allied  initiatives  aimed  at  promoting scientific validation, evidence-based practice, and capacity building in the field of Ayurveda. These  efforts  are  intended  to  strengthen  the  research  ecosystem,  enhance  integration  with mainstream healthcare, and ensure wider dissemination of scientific outcomes.

The Council undertakes structured research across these thematic areas:

-  Clinical Research: Evidence generation on Ayurvedic treatment protocols for various diseases.
-  Drug Standardization: Development of pharmacopoeial standards and monographs for Ayurvedic medicines.
-  Pharmacological Research: Preclinical and safety evaluation of Ayurvedic formulations.
-  Medicinal Plant Research: Including medico-ethnobotanical surveys, pharmacognostic studies, and cultivation protocols.
-  Public  Health  Research:  Community-based  interventions  for  disease  prevention  and health promotion.
-  Literary Research and Documentation: Critical review, compilation, translation, and digitalization of classical texts.
-  Fundamental Research: To generate evidence base on the basic concepts of Ayurveda in contemporary terms.
-  Pharmaceutical Research: To undertake research studies for the development of SOP of Classical and New Dosage forms of Ayurvedic medicines.

CCRAS undertakes intramural  research  through  its  network  of  peripheral  institutes and  engages  in  collaborative  studies  with  reputed  medical  colleges,  universities,  and hospitals.  These  initiatives  aim  to  scientifically  validate  Ayurvedic  interventions,  generate robust clinical evidence, and  establish institutional linkages to strengthen  Ayurveda's integration with mainstream healthcare and research ecosystems.

CCRAS  publishes  three  indexed  journals  i.e.  Journal  of  Research  in  Ayurvedic Sciences  (JRAS),  Journal  of  Drug  Research  in  Ayurvedic  Sciences  (JDRAS),  Journal  of Indian Medical Heritage (JIMH).

A quarterly CCRAS Bulletin is also published to disseminate findings in lay language. Public  awareness  is  promoted  through:  National/State-level Arogya  Melas,  Health  Camps, and Ayurveda Expos,  Participation  in  exhibitions  and  media  campaigns  (print,  digital,  and electronic) and Community  outreach  through  THCRP  (Tribal Health Care Research Programme)  and  SCSP  (Scheduled  Caste  Sub-Plan). CCRAS  Institutes  also  function  as clinical care centres, where Ayurvedic treatment is delivered to thousands of patients annually as part of clinical studies and routine care.

Research  Capacity  Building  Initiatives  of  CCRAS: To  strengthen  the  scientific foundation  of  Ayurveda,  CCRAS  actively  promotes  research  capacity  building  through various initiatives. These include:

-  Fellowship Programs (PhD fellowships in Ayurveda).
-  Skill-development workshops/seminars etc for CCRAS officials through
-  Short-term  training  programs -such  as  Certificate  Course  on  Panchakarma Therapy (CCPT), Marma Training Program being coordinated by CCRAS institutes
-  HRD initiatives such  as  SPARK  (for  Undergraduate Ayurveda  students),  PG-STAR (for Postgraduate students)
-  CCRAS Programme for Training of Ayurveda Research Methodology and Statistics (ARMS)

## NABH & NABL Accreditation:

-  12  CCRAS  hospitals  have  obtained  NABH  accreditation,  while  08  hospitals  have secured entry level NABH certification.
-  16 medical laboratories have obtained NABL-M(EL)T Accreditation
-  05  Testing  and  calibration  laboratories  are  accredited  under  Testing  &  calibration category (ISO-IEC 17025:2017)

(2) North  Eastern  Institute  of Ayurveda  and  Homoeopathy  (NEIAH)  has  taken  various steps to promote Ayurveda for holistic healthcare. In this connection, the Institute regularly gives  free  consultation  in  the  Institute  Hospitals  (both  OPD  &  IPD)  and  conducts  free Medical & Awareness Camps at villages, schools, Govt. Departments, Military personnel and at  community  levels.  NEIAH  organized  National  Seminars/  workshops,  Panel  discussions and  'Doctor  se  Mileye'  in  All  India  Radio,  Shillong  in  English,  Hindi  and  Regional Language (Khasi) and also conducted TV Talk shows on Ayurveda in Doordarshan Kendra, Shillong etc,. The Institute conducted Health camps under the Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN) programmes. The Institute is also running Bachelor of Ayurvedic  Medicine  and  Surgery  (BAMS)  and  Bachelor  of  Homeopathic  Medicine  and Surgery (BHMS)  courses and One-year Panchakarma Technician Certificate course. Panchakarma Therapy Training to Medical Officers (Ayurveda) of neighbouring States is also undertaken by NEIAH.

(3) Institute  of  Teaching  and  Research  in  Ayurveda  (ITRA),  Jamnagar  is  conducting various awareness program regularly for the promotion of Ayurveda in the country specially during  the  celebration  of  International  Yoga  Day,  Poshana  Abhiyana,  Ayurveda  Day  and Women's Day and TB elimination.

(4) All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), New Delhi plays a pivotal role in public health through  its  holistic  health  care  approach  to  chronic  disease  management,  mental  wellness, maternal and child care, and support during communicable disease outbreaks. It emphasizes personalized  treatment  based  on  individual  constitution  (prakriti),  utilizing  diet,  lifestyle modification,  Panchakarma,  and  herbal  medications  to  manage  chronic  conditions  like diabetes,  arthritis,  and  hypertension.  In  mental  health,  it  incorporates  therapies  such  as Satvavajaya  chikitsa  (psychotherapy),  yoga,  meditation,  and  rasayanas  for  emotional  and neurological  balance.  Ayurvedic  disciplines  like  Prasuti  Tantra  and  Kaumarbhritya  offer tailored  maternal  and  child  health  interventions,  including  antenatal  care  and  postpartum recovery. Ayurveda  also  contributes  during  infectious  outbreaks  through  immune-boosting

therapies, detox practices, and preventive guidance, as demonstrated during the COVID-19 response.

The All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) has taken multiple steps to promote and integrate Ayurveda into mainstream healthcare. It offers specialized OPD and IPD services for chronic, mental, maternal, and pediatric conditions, supported by Panchakarma, Swasthavritta (diet/lifestyle), and therapeutic yoga. AIIA also conducts public health outreach through lectures, health camps,  AYU  Samvad  programs, and publishes AyuCaRe to document  clinical  evidence. Its  dedicated  Mental  Health  services  manage  psychiatric conditions  using  Ayurvedic  therapies.  Furthermore,  AIIA  actively  participates  in  national initiatives  like  the 'Desh  Ka  Prakriti  Parikshan  Abhiyan',  which  screened  over  4.7  lakh people to promote preventive care based on prakriti (body constitution).

(5) North  Eastern  Institute  of  Ayurveda  &  Folk  Medicine  Research  (NEIAFMR)  is conducting various activities like Health Camps, National Events regularly.