Maarthandam

The Ministry of Ayush’s priorities and budget for the coming year were laid out in Parliament on Tuesday, with the government identifying five key areas for strengthening traditional medicine systems in India and confirming a total allocation of Rs. 4,408.93 crore for 2026-27.

The information was shared by Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Ayush, Shri Prataprao Jadhav, in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha.

Five Focus Areas for the Sector

According to the ministry, the Union Budget 2026-27 identifies the following priorities for strengthening Ayush:

• Quality certification — strengthening high-standard certification facilities for Ayush products and practices
• New institutions — setting up three new All India Institutes of Ayurveda
• Global research hub upgrade — upgrading the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre in Jamnagar, to support evidence-based research, training, and awareness
• Workforce training — training of caregivers, including Ayush practitioners
• Medical tourism — bringing Ayush into the Medical Value Tourism framework

Budget Breakdown

The ministry’s total 2026-27 allocation of Rs. 4,408.93 crore is split across four categories.

Administrative expenses for the Centre have been allocated Rs. 114.86 crore, of which Rs. 32.48 crore has already been released as of 4 August 2026.

Statutory and autonomous bodies make up the largest share by far, with Rs. 2,588.47 crore allocated and Rs. 1,095.93 crore released so far. This category alone accounts for well over half the ministry’s entire budget, and covers research councils and national institutes across the country. Within it, the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences receives the single biggest allocation at Rs. 524.05 crore, followed by the National Institute of Ayurveda, Jaipur at Rs. 227.85 crore, and the Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy at Rs. 227.25 crore.

Central Sector Schemes have been allocated Rs. 405.60 crore, with Rs. 70.61 crore released so far.

The Centrally Sponsored Scheme, which refers entirely to the National Ayush Mission, has been allocated Rs. 1,300 crore, with Rs. 151.43 crore released as of early August.

Put together, these four categories add up to the ministry’s total allocation of Rs. 4,408.93 crore for the year, of which Rs. 1,350.45 crore has been released so far.

The National Ayush Mission

The ministry runs one Centrally Sponsored Scheme, the National Ayush Mission (NAM), implemented through state and Union Territory governments, which receives the full Rs. 1,300 crore allocated under that category. NAM funds a wide range of activities, including:

• Upgrading Ayush dispensaries into “Ayushman Arogya Mandir (Ayush)” wellness centres
• Co-locating Ayush facilities at Primary Health Centres, Community Health Centres, and District Hospitals
• Setting up new 10/30/50-bed integrated Ayush hospitals
• Supplying essential drugs to government Ayush hospitals and dispensaries
• Establishing new Ayush colleges in states where teaching institutions are lacking
• Public health programmes and outreach (IEC/BCC activities)

Since 2014-15, the ministry says Rs. 6,40,699.24 lakh has been allocated and released to states and UTs under NAM through their State Annual Action Plans.

Central Sector Schemes

Beyond NAM, the ministry runs six Central Sector Schemes, together allocated Rs. 405.60 crore for 2026-27:

• Promotion of International Cooperation: Rs. 156.00 crore
• Central Sector Scheme for Conservation, Development and Sustainable Management of Medicinal Plants: Rs. 65.00 crore
• Ayurswasthaya Yojana: Rs. 62.60 crore
• Information, Education and Communication (IEC): Rs. 45.00 crore
• Ayurgyan: Rs. 50.00 crore
• Ayush Oushadhi Gunvatta Evum Uttapadan Sanvardhan Yojana (AOGUSY): Rs. 27.00 crore

Regional Medical Hubs: Still in Early Stages

The reply also addressed the regional medical hubs announced in the Union Budget 2026-27. The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) is the nodal department for this initiative and has held stakeholder consultations, including a post-Budget webinar involving domain experts, relevant ministries, healthcare institutions, industry bodies, the hospitality sector, and multilateral organisations.

The Ministry of Ayush said it has given DPIIT technical input on integrating Ayush systems into these upcoming hubs. However, the ministry confirmed that no formal implementation framework proposals have been received yet, indicating the initiative remains in a preliminary, consultative stage.