Department of AYUSH

The Department of AYUSH, an arm of India’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, is the governmental body responsible for the promotion, regulation, and development of the nation’s five traditional systems of medicine—Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy. Its uniqueness lies in the formal integration of ancient, culturally rooted healing practices into a modern public‑health framework, making it the only such department worldwide that administers a portfolio spanning both millennia‑old knowledge and contemporary wellness policy.

Historical Background

The institutional lineage of AYUSH traces to the post‑independence era, when the Government of India created the Department of Indian Systems of Medicine and Homeopathy in 1969. In 1995, this unit was renamed the Department of AYUSH, consolidating the five systems under a single administrative umbrella. The department’s elevation to a full Ministry of AYUSH on 3 November 2014 marked a political commitment to expand research, education, and service delivery for traditional medicine. Early milestones include the 1970 Indian Medicine Central Council Act, which codified standards for Ayurveda, Unani and Siddha, and the 1973 Homoeopathy Central Council Act, which did the same for homeopathy.

Statutory Framework

The department’s legal foundation rests on three principal statutes. First, Section 2 of the Indian Medicine Central Council Act, 1970 defines the composition and powers of the Central Council of Indian Medicine, granting it authority to prescribe curricula for Ayurvedic, Unani and Siddha colleges. Second, Section 3 of the Homoeopathy Central Council Act, 1973 establishes the Homoeopathy Central Council, responsible for accreditation of homoeopathic institutions and registration of practitioners. Third, the National AYUSH Mission (2014‑2020), launched under the Ministry of AYUSH, operationalises the government’s policy intent by earmarking ₹1,000 crore for research, infrastructure and capacity‑building across the five systems. Together, these provisions create a regulatory lattice that links academic standards, professional registration, and fiscal support.

Policy Mechanisms and Programs

The department implements a suite of schemes that translate statutory intent into on‑the‑ground impact. The Ayushman Bharat‑AYUSH Health and Wellness Centres (AHWCs), announced in February 2020, aim to establish 150 centres by 2022, each offering preventive, promotive and curative services rooted in AYUSH modalities. The National AYUSH Mission funds 1,000 research projects annually, with a 2022‑23 allocation of ₹500 crore for clinical trials, phytochemical studies and traditional knowledge digitisation. Additionally, the Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH) Export Promotion Scheme provides subsidies for exporters, contributing to a reported export value of US$2.5 billion in FY 2022‑23. The department also oversees 23 autonomous institutes, including the National Institute of Ayurveda (Bengaluru) and the National Institute of Unani Medicine (Delhi), which together enrol over 30,000 students each year.

Current Implementation and Reach

In the 2023‑24 Union Budget, the Ministry of AYUSH received a record allocation of ₹2,500 crore, reflecting a 12 percent increase over the previous year. According to the department’s annual report, more than 1.5 million AYUSH practitioners are registered, and 70 percent of the Indian population reportedly accesses AYUSH services for primary health care, especially in rural districts where government‑run AHWCs operate. The department’s digital portal, Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission, now hosts over 2 million electronic health records, enabling integration of AYUSH prescriptions with all‑India health information systems. Ongoing monitoring shows a 23 percent rise in patient footfall at AYUSH centres between 2021 and 2023, underscoring growing public trust.

International Context and Significance

India’s AYUSH framework stands out in the global landscape of traditional medicine. While the World Health Organization’s Traditional Medicine Strategy (2014‑2023) encourages member states to safeguard indigenous knowledge, only a handful of countries have dedicated ministries comparable to AYUSH. The United Nations’ 2022 report on “Traditional Knowledge” cites India as the largest exporter of traditional medicinal products, with the AYUSH sector accounting for roughly 30 percent of global herbal‑medicine trade. Moreover, the department’s participation in the WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine (established 2022) positions India as a key contributor to international standards on safety, efficacy and intellectual‑property protection for traditional therapies. This cross‑border influence reinforces the department’s role not merely as a domestic regulator but as a catalyst for the worldwide resurgence of holistic health practices.