India wants to take Ayurveda beyond its current identity as a range of wellness products and services and make it globally known. NITI Aayog released its Strategic Roadmap for Making Ayurveda Global on 2nd July 2026 outlining a long-term strategy till 2047 focused on research, quality standards, international mobility of professionals, education, exports and cooperation with institutions abroad.
What is Global Ayurveda Road Map?
The Health Division of NITI Aayog along with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) has prepared the report looking at the opportunities and challenges in taking Ayurveda to the global market. It is based on stakeholder consultations, international comparisons and policy analysis.
The roadmap will support evidence-informed policymaking and coordinated action across government, research, education, healthcare and industry, the Press Information Bureau (PIB) said in an official release.
Its central objective is to enhance the preconditions for global recognition of Ayurveda as a system of healthcare. And this is not only about exporting herbal products but also about attention to scientific research, professional qualifications, manufacturing quality, regulatory requirements and international cooperation.
**The roadmap provides recommendations and a phased approach toward 2047. Its release doesn’t mean that every recommendation has been approved or implemented.
India’s Global Ayurveda Agenda: Five Key Priorities
1.International recognition for Ayurveda practitioners
The roadmap proposes the creation of a Global Ayurveda Register to help with the international verification of practitioners’ credentials. It also suggests a digital single-window portal that includes country-specific information on licensing requirements, visas and professional practice.
Another proposed measure is mutual recognition agreements with partner countries. Such agreements could help qualified professionals to pursue international career opportunities.
However, a global register would not automatically enable a practitioner to work in another country. Eligibility to practise will continue to be subject to the laws, licensing rules and professional requirements of the relevant jurisdiction.
2. More international research and clinical evidence
The strategy includes the need to increase international clinical trials, including through World Health Organization (WHO) collaborating centers. It also demands international research results, and safety, to be reported routinely, and for real-world patient registries.
New areas of research such as Ayurgenomics have been identified as potential areas of research.
The proposals aim to improve the evidence available to researchers, regulators and health professionals. But the existence of a research program is no evidence of the effectiveness of a particular Ayurvedic treatment. Individual findings need to be assessed for scientific quality, safety and clinical relevance.
3. Higher manufacturing quality and international standards
The roadmap recommends improving manufacturing practices, including upgrading facilities to World Health Organization Good Manufacturing Practices (WHO-GMP) standards.
It also recommends an export-oriented edition of the Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia as per international regulatory requirements. Pharmacopoeia is a standard official text for identity, quality and tests of medicinal substances and preparations.
These measures would help manufacturers document product quality and understand the requirements of overseas markets. But meeting the manufacturing standards is not sufficient to obtain approval to market a product as a medicine in another country.
4. Value-added exports and overseas health care services
It recommends a shift from raw medicinal plants exports to healthcare services and professional expertise and higher-value formulations.
Other proposals include establishing Ayurveda centers abroad, strengthening export support through Ayush Export Promotion Council, creating a real-time trade dashboard and establishing treatment hubs linked with Ayush visas and insurance-backed medical value travel.
The approach is aimed at linking product manufacturing, professional services, tourism and international trade. Its final impact will depend on how it is put into practice, market demand, regulatory acceptance and the capacity of businesses to meet the requirements of destination-country.
5. International education and joint implementation
The report also highlights education standards, academic and industrial partnerships, regulatory cooperation and international visibility as priorities.
It recommends establishing a Mission Steering Group to oversee the strategy to 2047.
The roadmap organises its recommendations into three pillars:
- Availability: International practice and workforce development, exports and manufacturing, research and development and education.
- Acceptability: Regulatory compliance, international cooperation, insurance coverage, and context adaptation.- Propagation Medical value travel & engagement with international institutions, strategic location, global awareness.
These pillars together tackle the barriers that prevent Ayurveda products, services, and qualifications from being accepted more widely abroad.
What’s in the report on Ayurveda’s global footprint?
On 4 July 2026, The Times of India carried a report with certain figures relating to Ayurveda and Ayush products in international markets.
The newspaper’s report on the roadmap said:
- Exports of Ayush and herbal products grew from US$ 1.09 billion in 2014 to US$ 2.16 billion in 2023.
Products of Ayurveda were exported to some 150 countries.- Ayurveda had varying degrees of recognition in almost 30 countries. - Documented research activity in almost 70 countries.
- There were over 3.55 lakh trained Ayurvedic doctors in India and almost 95% of them were located in India.
Each of these figures describes a different aspect of international reach and should be interpreted separately. The presence of products in a country does not indicate that Ayurveda is accepted there as a complete system of healthcare. Similarly, research activity does not by itself prove clinical effectiveness.
The newspaper also pointed to differences in regulatory classification – in some overseas markets Ayurvedic formulations are marketed as dietary supplements and not as authorised medicines. This can affect the health claims that are allowed, the evidence that is required and the process for getting market approval. [turn805290search2
Why Global Ayurveda Roadmap is important?
Better information on foreign licensing rules might make it easier for practitioners to plan international careers. If negotiated and implemented, mutual recognition agreements could also create professional opportunities.
International collaboration and more systematic generation of evidence could support researchers and academic institutions in collaboration and better understanding of the safety and effectiveness of Ayurveda.
More transparent standards and guidance for specific markets could help resolve regulatory barriers for manufacturers and exporters. The roadmap could also be used by policymakers to coordinate research, education, trade and international engagement.
Better quality assurance and transparent safety reporting are important for the public to make informed healthcare decisions. International recognition does not equal scientific proof that every Ayurvedic treatment works and is suitable for every patient.
What Comes Next?
The roadmap sets out a long-term policy direction but the release does not confirm that all proposed measures have been implemented or provide a final implementation schedule for each recommendation.
Readers and stakeholders are encouraged to:
- Read the full report on the official NITI Aayog website.
- Continue to monitor announcements by NITI Aayog and Ministry of Ayush for formal decisions on implementation.
- Check the destination country’s regulatory authority before assuming that a product can be marketed or a practitioner can practise in a destination country.
- Distinguish between proposed registers, agreements and standards and measures formally adopted by the competent authorities.
Conclusion
*NITI Aayog’s Strategic Roadmap for Making Ayurveda Global outlines a long-term approach to strengthening international research, regulation, professional development, manufacturing quality and exports. Its advancement will be propelled by implementation, regulatory cooperation, credible evidence and measurable outcomes.
The strategy is looking to 2047, but wider international recognition is a goal rather than a foregone conclusion. The continued assessment of research quality, product safety and regulatory compliance will be important for the responsible global development of Ayurveda .
