The Ministry of AYUSH plays a crucial role in promoting Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa-Rigpa, and Homeopathy in India. The Demands for Grants 2025-26 provide a detailed financial roadmap for the Ministry, focusing on research, education, infrastructure, and international collaborations. This blog post provides an overview of the budget allocation, key schemes, and strategic focus for the upcoming financial year.
Budget Overview
The total allocation for the Ministry of AYUSH for 2025-26 stands at ₹3,992.90 crores, marking an increase from ₹3,497.64 crores in the revised estimates of 2024-25.
Year-wise Budget Comparison (in ₹ crores)
| Category | Actual 2023-24 | Budget 2024-25 | Revised 2024-25 | Budget 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | 2,912.59 | 3,703.74 | 3,483.99 | 3,937.45 |
| Capital | 3.72 | 8.75 | 13.65 | 55.45 |
| Total | 2,916.31 | 3,712.49 | 3,497.64 | 3,992.90 |
Key Allocations
1. Centre’s Establishment Expenditure
- Secretariat Expenditure: ₹108.55 crores
- National Medicinal Plants Board: ₹18.59 crores
- Pharmacopoeia Commission for Indian Medicine and Homeopathy (PCIM&H): ₹21.96 crores
2. Central Sector Schemes/Projects
- Promotion of International Cooperation: ₹136 crores
- AYURGYAN (Research and Education in AYUSH): ₹50 crores
- Ayurswasthay Yojana (Public Health Initiatives & Centers of Excellence): ₹62.60 crores
- Medicinal Plants Conservation & Development: ₹65 crores
- AYUSH Oushadhi Gunvatta evum Uttapadan Samvardhan Yojana (AOGUSY) – Quality Assurance for AYUSH Medicines: ₹27 crores
3. Transfers to States/UTs
The National AYUSH Mission (NAM), aimed at integrating AYUSH services into the public health system, has been allocated ₹1,275 crores, making it the single largest expenditure under the Ministry.
Strategic Focus Areas for 2025-26
1. Strengthening AYUSH Research & Development
The budget emphasizes scientific validation of AYUSH medicines through:
- Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (₹457.20 crores)
- Central Council for Research in Homeopathy (₹165 crores)
- Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine (₹214.50 crores)
2. Expanding AYUSH Education
Institutes like All India Institute of Ayurveda (₹251.20 crores) and National Institute of Homeopathy, Kolkata (₹93.96 crores) receive continued funding to enhance post-graduate and doctoral education in AYUSH systems.
3. Promoting Global Presence of AYUSH
- Establishing AYUSH Chairs in foreign universities
- Collaborating with international health organizations
- Encouraging AYUSH-based medical tourism
4. Boosting Medicinal Plant Cultivation
The National Medicinal Plants Board continues to support farmers and industry players in cultivating medicinal plants to ensure a stable supply chain for AYUSH medicine production.
5. Enhancing AYUSH in Public Health
The Ayurswasthay Yojana focuses on integrating AYUSH into primary healthcare, aiming to promote preventive healthcare practices and reduce dependency on modern pharmaceuticals.
Conclusion
The Ministry of AYUSH’s 2025-26 budget reflects a strategic push for research, education, and global expansion of traditional medicine systems. The increased allocation towards infrastructure, medicinal plant cultivation, and scientific validation positions AYUSH as a significant player in India’s healthcare ecosystem.
As demand for holistic and alternative healthcare solutions grows worldwide, the investments in AYUSH research and global promotion are likely to contribute to India’s leadership in traditional medicine.
