The Union Budget 2026–27 has identified several priorities for strengthening India’s AYUSH sector, including establishing three new All India Institutes of Ayurveda, upgrading the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre in Jamnagar, training healthcare caregivers and expanding the role of AYUSH in medical value tourism.
The Ministry of Ayush has received a total allocation of ₹4,408.93 crore for the financial year 2026–27.
Highlights of AYUSH in Budget 2026–27
The Ministry of Ayush has identified several areas for development under the Union Budget 2026–27. The priorities aim to strengthen education, research, healthcare delivery, international cooperation and quality systems across the AYUSH sector.
The main areas of focus include:
- Establishment of three new All India Institutes of Ayurveda.
- Upgradation of the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre in Jamnagar.
- Promotion of evidence-based research, training and awareness of traditional medicine.
- Training of caregivers, including AYUSH healthcare providers.
- Integration of AYUSH into medical value tourism.
- Upgradation of high-standard certification facilities for AYUSH.
According to the Ministry, these priorities form part of broader efforts to strengthen the AYUSH ecosystem and its contribution to healthcare and traditional medicine research.
₹4,408.93 Crore Allocated to the Ministry of Ayush
The Ministry of Ayush has received a total allocation of ₹4,408.93 crore for 2026–27, covering establishment expenditure, statutory and autonomous bodies, Central Sector Schemes and Centrally Sponsored Schemes.
The allocation is distributed as follows:
| Area | Budget allocation |
|---|---|
| Establishment expenditure of the Centre | ₹114.86 crore |
| Statutory and autonomous bodies | ₹2,588.47 crore |
| Central Sector Schemes | ₹405.60 crore |
| Centrally Sponsored Schemes | ₹1,300 crore |
| Total | ₹4,408.93 crore |
According to the Ministry’s parliamentary response, ₹1,350.45 crore had been released against the total allocation as of August 4, 2026.
Three New All India Institutes of Ayurveda
One of the key priorities is the establishment of three new All India Institutes of Ayurveda (AIIAs).
The proposed expansion is intended to strengthen institutional infrastructure for Ayurvedic education, research and healthcare. The existing All India Institute of Ayurveda in New Delhi is among the autonomous institutions receiving funding under the Ministry’s 2026–27 budget.
The budget provision for AIIA, New Delhi, is ₹270.20 crore, of which ₹110.80 crore had been released as of August 4, 2026.
The announcement identifies the three new institutes as a government priority but does not specify their locations or detailed implementation timelines.
WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre Receives Greater Attention
Another priority is the upgradation of the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre in Jamnagar, Gujarat.
The centre is intended to support evidence-based research, training and awareness of traditional medicine. Strengthening it forms part of India’s broader engagement in international traditional medicine research and cooperation.
Evidence-based research is particularly relevant as traditional systems of medicine engage with modern research institutions, healthcare systems and international organisations.
AYUSH and Medical Value Tourism
The integration of AYUSH into medical value tourism has also been identified as a government priority.
Medical value tourism involves people travelling to another location or country to access healthcare and related services. Greater integration of AYUSH could create opportunities for Ayurveda and other AYUSH systems within India’s broader healthcare and wellness tourism sector.
However, the cited government announcement does not provide a detailed implementation framework for this component.
Regional Medical Hubs and AYUSH Integration
The Union Budget 2026–27 also announced the creation of regional medical hubs.
The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) is leading this initiative. DPIIT has held stakeholder consultations with the Ministry of Ayush, healthcare institutions, industry associations, hospitality-sector representatives, multilateral organisations and other stakeholders.
The Ministry of Ayush has provided technical inputs and suggestions to DPIIT regarding the integration of AYUSH systems into these hubs.
The Ministry clarified that no formal proposals for an implementation framework had been received at the time of the parliamentary response. Therefore, AYUSH integration into regional medical hubs should be considered an area under development rather than a completed programme.
National AYUSH Mission Continues to Strengthen Healthcare Infrastructure
The Ministry implements the Centrally Sponsored National AYUSH Mission (NAM) through state and Union Territory governments.
The mission provides financial assistance for developing and promoting AYUSH systems, including Ayurveda, based on State Annual Action Plans submitted under the scheme.
Supported activities include:
- Upgrading AYUSH dispensaries to Ayushman Arogya Mandir (AYUSH).
- Co-locating AYUSH facilities in Primary Health Centres, Community Health Centres and district hospitals.
- Modernising government AYUSH hospitals.
- Establishing new AYUSH dispensaries in areas without existing facilities.
- Establishing integrated AYUSH hospitals with 10-, 30- or 50-bed capacities.
- Supplying essential medicines to government AYUSH facilities.
- Supporting AYUSH public health programmes.
- Establishing government AYUSH colleges in areas without teaching infrastructure.
- Developing undergraduate and postgraduate AYUSH institutions and associated pharmacy and paramedical courses.
The government reported that ₹6,40,699.24 lakh had been allocated or released through state and Union Territory proposals during 2014–15 to 2025–26.
Funding Across Major AYUSH Institutions
The 2026–27 allocation includes funding for national institutions and research organisations across several disciplines.
The Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) has been allocated ₹524.05 crore, while the National Institute of Ayurveda, Jaipur, has received an allocation of ₹227.85 crore.
Other institutions receiving allocations include:
- Institute of Teaching and Research in Ayurveda.
- National Commission for Indian System of Medicine.
- All India Institute of Ayurveda.
- Rashtriya Ayurveda Vidyapeeth.
- National institutions working in Siddha, Unani, Yoga, Naturopathy, Homoeopathy and Sowa-Rigpa.
These allocations support the broader institutional framework for AYUSH education, research, regulation and healthcare delivery.
Research, Quality Assurance and International Cooperation
The Ministry implements several Central Sector Schemes covering information and education, international cooperation, medicinal plant conservation, AYUSH drug quality, manufacturing standards, healthcare and research.
For 2026–27, ₹156 crore has been allocated for the Promotion of International Cooperation scheme, while ₹27 crore has been allocated for the Ayush Oushadhi Gunvatta Evam Uttpadan Samvardhan Yojana (AOGUSY).
These allocations reflect the Ministry’s focus on international engagement, quality assurance and strengthening the institutional infrastructure supporting AYUSH.
Significance of the Budget Priorities
The priorities announced for 2026–27 cover several parts of the AYUSH ecosystem rather than a single programme. These include education and training, research infrastructure, healthcare delivery, quality systems and international cooperation.
Additional institutional capacity may create opportunities for Ayurveda students and researchers. Investment in infrastructure and training may also support the delivery of AYUSH services.
The emphasis on quality standards and evidence-based research is relevant to the sector’s efforts to strengthen credibility and support responsible integration into contemporary healthcare systems.
What Readers Need to Know
The government announcement provides details of budget allocations and identified priorities, but does not specify application procedures or registration processes for individual beneficiaries.
Key points include:
- The Ministry of Ayush has received a total allocation of ₹4,408.93 crore for 2026–27.
- Three new All India Institutes of Ayurveda have been identified as a priority, but their locations and detailed implementation timelines have not been announced in the cited release.
- Integration of AYUSH into regional medical hubs remains under development.
- National AYUSH Mission activities are implemented by state and Union Territory governments.
- Funding and implementation depend on approved proposals and the applicable scheme guidelines.
Conclusion
The Union Budget 2026–27 identifies education, research, healthcare infrastructure, quality assurance and international cooperation as key priorities for India’s AYUSH sector.
The government has highlighted three new All India Institutes of Ayurveda, the development of the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre in Jamnagar and greater integration of AYUSH into emerging healthcare and medical tourism initiatives. The Ministry of Ayush has received a total allocation of ₹4,408.93 crore.
The next stage will depend on how these priorities are translated into specific projects, institutional developments and implementation frameworks across the country.
