Union Budget 2026 : Three new All India Institutes of Ayurveda to be set up

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday proposed the establishment of three new All India Institutes of Ayurveda to strengthen research, education and global promotion of traditional Indian medicine systems.

Presenting the Union Budget 2025–26 in the Lok Sabha, the Finance Minister said Ayurveda has gained significant international acceptance, particularly after the COVID-19 pandemic, as people across the world increasingly turned to natural and preventive healthcare practices.

She noted that the growth of Ayurveda and traditional medicine not only supports healthcare but also benefits farmers cultivating medicinal herbs and creates employment opportunities for youth engaged in processing and manufacturing herbal products.

“To meet the rising global demand for quality traditional medicines, the government will set up three new All India Institutes of Ayurveda,” Sitharaman said.

In addition, the government plans to:

• Upgrade AYUSH pharmacies
• Modernise drug testing laboratories
• Strengthen the certification ecosystem
• Develop more skilled manpower in the traditional medicine sector

The Finance Minister highlighted that India’s ancient wellness systems were gaining worldwide recognition. She recalled how yoga received mass global acceptance after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s initiative to observe International Yoga Day through the United Nations.

“Post-Covid, Ayurveda has similarly gained global acceptance,” she added.

Sitharaman also proposed upgrading the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre in Jamnagar to promote evidence-based research, training and awareness in the field of traditional medicine.

The measures aim to position India as a global hub for Ayurveda and AYUSH-based healthcare while strengthening scientific validation and international standards.

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