The Union Budget 2026 marks a decisive advancement in India’s journey towards building a holistic, inclusive and future-ready health care system. Guided by the visionary leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi, this budget reinforces our national commitment to 'Health for All' and accelerates the realisation of 'Viksit Bharat'. It affirms that integrative health care is not supplementary to public policy — it is central to it.
The allocation of Rs 4,408 crore to the Ministry of Ayush represents a strategic strengthening of India’s health care architecture. This enhanced investment deepens the integration of Ayush systems within mainstream health care, expands outreach under the National Ayush Mission (NAM), and strengthens Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAM-Ayush) across the country. It advances preventive health care, promotes evidence-based practice, and strengthens institutional capacity at every level — primary, secondary and tertiary.
Institutions, Innovation, Integrity: Strengthening the foundations of Ayush
A major highlight of the budget is the announcement of three new All India Institutes of Ayurveda (AIIAs). These proposed institutions will expand access to high-quality undergraduate and postgraduate education, advanced clinical services and research.
They strengthen tertiary care capacity while promoting rigorous, evidence-based integrative healthcare. By investing in academic excellence and clinical depth, the government is reinforcing public trust and institutional credibility.
Quality assurance remains a cornerstone of our policy direction. The upgradation of Ayush pharmacies and Drug Testing Laboratories enhances certification standards, strengthens regulatory oversight, and ensures the availability of skilled personnel.
This approach safeguards consumer confidence, reinforces patient safety, and strengthens export readiness. It also supports farmers cultivating medicinal plants and MSMEs engaged in processing and manufacturing, aligning health care advancement with rural livelihoods and enterprise growth.
A global vision powered by people and skills
The upgradation of the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre at Jamnagar further consolidates India’s global leadership. By strengthening research collaboration, international training and policy dialogue, the Centre advances evidence-based traditional medicine and positions India as a global knowledge hub in integrative health systems.
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Additionally, to position India as a premier global destination for medical value travel, the budget proposes a dedicated scheme to support States in establishing five regional medical hubs in partnership with the private sector.
Envisioned as integrated health care complexes, these hubs will bring together advanced medical services, academic institutions, and research facilities under a single framework. With dedicated Ayush Centres, Medical Value Tourism Facilitation Centres, and comprehensive infrastructure for diagnostics, post-care and rehabilitation, they will offer a seamless continuum of care for domestic and international patients.
This initiative builds upon the global recognition accorded to Yoga following its historic adoption at the United Nations under the leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the growing international acceptance of Ayurveda in the post-pandemic era. By combining institutional strength with global outreach, these hubs will generate diverse employment opportunities for doctors, Allied Health Professionals and wellness practitioners, while reinforcing India’s reputation as a trusted centre for integrative health care.
Equally significant is the commitment to building a strong care ecosystem. The development of NSQF-aligned programmes to train multi-skilled caregivers — integrating wellness, yoga and operation of medical and assistive devices — strengthens preventive and geriatric care services.
The target of training 1.5 lakh caregivers in the coming year aims to expand the skilled health care workforce and respond to emerging demographic needs.
From expansion to excellence: The next chapter of Ayush
Over the past decade, Ayush has witnessed unprecedented institutional growth, global recognition and research advancement. Union Budget 2026 builds on that foundation with a clear strategic shift — from expansion to consolidation, from outreach to quality enhancement, and from national strengthening to global leadership.
This budget reflects the government’s firm resolve to institutionalise integrative health care as a national development priority. It aligns public health objectives with employment generation, rural prosperity, global engagement and economic growth. It embodies our civilisational ethos of 'Swasth Bharat, Sampann Bharat', where traditional knowledge and modern science progress together.
Union Budget 2026, therefore, stands as a comprehensive blueprint — strengthening institutions, building skills, ensuring quality, expanding global outreach and taking the benefits of India’s traditional systems of medicine to every household. It represents a confident step towards a healthier, self-reliant and globally respected India.
( Prataprao Jadhav is the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Ayush)
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of THE WEEK.