New Delhi: For the first time since its inception in 2016, Ayurveda Day will be observed on a fixed date, i.e. on 23 September every year, as notified by the Government of India through a Gazette Notification issued in March 2025. Earlier, Ayurveda Day was celebrated on Dhanvantari Jayanti (Dhanteras). The decision to assign a fixed date marks a historic shift, giving Ayurveda a universal calendar identity and enabling greater participation at the global level.
Key steps taken by the government
1. Institutional and Structural Reforms
• Creation of AYUSH Ministry: While the Department of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy) existed since 2003, Prime Minister Modi elevated it to a full-fledged Cabinet-level Ministry in 2014. This gave it greater autonomy, a larger budget, and more political heft to implement its policies both domestically and internationally.
• All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA): Established in New Delhi on the lines of the prestigious AIIMS, it serves as an “Institute of National Importance” for teaching, research, and patient care in Ayurveda.
• National Ayush Mission (NAM): Launched to promote AYUSH medical systems through cost-effective services, strengthening educational institutions, facilitating the enforcement of quality control, and promoting sustainable cultivation of medicinal plants.
2. Global Outreach and Diplomacy
• International Day of Yoga (IDY): This is the most prominent and successful global initiative. In 2014, PM Modi proposed the idea at the UN General Assembly (UNGA). The resolution was adopted with a record number of co-sponsors, and June 21st was declared the International Day of Yoga. Every year, Indian embassies and missions worldwide organise massive yoga events, making it a global phenomenon.
• WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine (GCTM): In a major diplomatic coup, India secured an agreement with the World Health Organisation (WHO) to establish the GCTM in Jamnagar, Gujarat. This centre aims to be a global knowledge hub for traditional medicine, fostering evidence-based research, training, and policy.
• Incorporating Yoga and Ayurveda in Diplomatic Engagements: Yoga and Ayurveda have become integral parts of India’s diplomatic engagements. World leaders have been photographed participating in yoga sessions, and wellness centres are being set up in various countries with government support.
• AYUSH Visas: Introduced a special category of medical visa for foreign nationals seeking treatment under Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy systems in India.
3. Research and Education
• Focus on Evidence-Based Research: The government has pushed for more scientific validation of Ayurveda and other systems. Institutions like the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) are being encouraged to conduct clinical trials and research to build a robust evidence base.
• AYUSH Grid: A digital mission to connect all AYUSH hospitals, clinics, and research institutions to enable data sharing, telemedicine, and better delivery of services.
• Educational Reforms: Steps have been taken to standardise and improve the quality of education in AYUSH fields to produce more qualified practitioners.
4. Integration with Mainstream Healthcare
• AYUSH Wellness Centres: The government is integrating AYUSH services into the public health system under the Ayushman Bharat scheme. Thousands of Health and Wellness Centres are being set up to provide preventive and promotive healthcare that includes yoga and Ayurveda.
• Co-location of AYUSH services: AYUSH treatments and facilities are being made available in allopathic hospitals to provide patients with a more integrated choice of therapies.
5. Economic and Industry Support
• Promotion of Medicinal Plants: Schemes to support the cultivation of medicinal plants, ensuring a quality supply of raw materials for the industry and providing farmers with an alternative source of income.
• AYUSH Cluster Parks: Proposed to be set up to encourage manufacturing, innovation, and export of AYUSH products.
• Simplifying Regulations: Efforts have been made to streamline regulations for AYUSH products to boost exports and ensure quality and safety.
6. Branding and Promotion
• “AYUSH” as a Brand: The government has actively worked to brand “AYUSH” as a holistic health and wellness label globally.
• Digital Campaigns: Extensive use of social media and digital platforms to promote International Yoga Day and the benefits of Indian traditional medicine.
• Involvement of Celebrities: Bollywood stars, cricketers, and other prominent figures have been roped in as brand ambassadors to popularise yoga and Ayurveda.