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Marking significant strides towards the global recognition and promotion of traditional medicine. This year has been a landmark period for Ayush, from integrating Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy into mainstream health systems worldwide to significant agreements with countries and international organisations.
Introduction of International Classification of Diseases (ICD) for Traditional Medicine in ICD-11 by WHO: The data and terminology relating to diseases based on Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani Medicine have been included in the WHO ICD-11 classification. With this effort, the terminology defining diseases in Ayurveda, Unani and Siddha medicine has been indexed as a code and included in the WHO Disease Classification Series ICD-11. This effort will further strengthen and expand India’s healthcare delivery system, research, Ayush insurance coverage, research & development, and policy-making system. These codes can also be used to formulate future strategies to control various diseases in society.
Surya Namaskar Program: On the occasion of Makar Sankranti, the Ministry of Ayush arranged a Surya Namaskar program from January 1 to January 14 to begin the year in a health-promoting manner. The event witnessed enthusiastic participation from across regions and age groups. The event raised awareness of yoga’s physical, emotional, and spiritual benefits in India and elsewhere.
This nationwide campaign emphasises the value of an all-encompassing approach to health, a fundamental tenet of Ayush systems. The Gujarat government set a Guinness World Record for the Surya Namaskar practice program, which was held at 108 venues throughout the state. To follow the example established by the State of Gujarat in the Surya Namaskar program, the Ministry organised the program in 19 major Sun Temple complexes across the country.
Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit: In January, the Ministry of Ayush participated in the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. The event served as a platform for discussions on promoting Ayurveda and traditional medicine, bringing together stakeholders from across the globe to explore collaborations, research opportunities, and investment in the health and wellness sector.
National Arogya Fairs and Bharat Parv: The National Arogya Fair & AIACcon 2024 was held in Thane, Mumbai, from 19-22 January 2024, to showcase India’s traditional medicine and wellness products. It was a successful initiative that brought together practitioners, entrepreneurs, and researchers from the Ayush systems. The fair highlighted the transformative potential of integrating Ayush practices into global health and wellness trends. A National Arogya Fair was held in New Delhi on 1-4 February 2024 with the theme Ayush for Holistic Health. The fair was inaugurated by the Hon’ble Union Cabinet Minister for Ayush Shri Sarbananda Sonowal. The fair highlighted the remarkable advancements of Ayush in public health, research, education and quality control. The Ministry participated in the Bharat Parv 2024 organised on 23-31 January 2024. The festival showcased multiple cuisines and cultures of different states of India. The Ministry organised various activities, including yoga demonstrations, free OPDs, exhibitions, etc.
Inauguration of the Central Research Institute of Yoga & Naturopathy: Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the Central Research Institute of Yoga & Naturopathy (CRIYN) with a 200-bed hospital facility at Devarkhana Village, Jhajjar. The establishment of the central institute reflects the government’s commitment to advancing research and providing state-of-the-art Yoga and Naturopathy healthcare facilities. The Hon’ble PM also inaugurated ‘Nisarg Gram’ under the National Institute of Naturopathy, Pune, in the virtual presence of Shri Eknath Shinde, Chief Minister, Maharashtra.
Establishment of Ayush Holistic Wellness Center and MoU with the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India: The then Hon’ble Chief Justice of India, Justice DY Chandrachud, inaugurated ‘Ayush Holistic Wellness Centre’ in the premises of the Supreme Court of India in the august presence of Companion Judges of the Supreme Court of India; Union Cabinet Minister of Ayush and Ports, Shipping & Waterways Shri Sarbananda Sonowal and Minister of State for Ayush Dr. Munjpara Mahendrabhai. On this occasion, the Supreme Court and the All-India Institute of Ayurveda signed an MoU regarding establishing, operationalising and providing expert services at the Ayush Holistic Wellness Centre.
MoU with WCD Ministry for nutritional improvement in adolescent girls: The Ministry of Ayush and the Ministry of Women and Child Development have signed a MoU for the nutritional improvement in adolescent girls through Ayurveda Interventions. It is a Joint Public Health Initiative for “Anaemia Control among adolescent girls using Ayurveda interventions in the five districts under Mission Utkarsh”. The MoU was signed in the presence of Union Minister of Ayush Shri Sarbananda Sonowal and Union Minister of Women and Child Development Smt. Smriti Irani.
Celebration of Unani Day: The Ministry of Ayush celebrated Unani Day 2024 and the National Conference on Unani Medicine for One Earth, One Health on 11th February in New Delhi. The Secretary of Ayush was the guest leader. Other attendees included Vaidya Jayant Deopujari, Prof. Shakil Ahmad, Prof. (Dr.) Romshoo, Dr. Sunchu Glory Swarupa, Dr. M. A. Qasmi, and Dr. N. Zaheer Ahmed. Various medicines, courses, e-books, and a documentary were released during the event. CCRUM and the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology signed a Memorandum of Understanding for research and educational collaboration.
Ministry of Ayush signed MoU with RIS: The Ministry of Ayush and Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS) New Delhi signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This MoU will bring forth an overview of the Ayush service sector and will continue academic cooperation and collaboration with RIS (a Policy Research autonomous institute of the Ministry of External Affairs). Secretary Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha signed the MoU on behalf of the Ministry of Ayush, whereas Director General Prof Sachin Chturvedi was the signatory on behalf of RIS.
Mega joint initiatives between the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the Ministry of Ayush: Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, launched six Ayush-ICMR Advanced Centres for Integrated Health Research in four AIIMS (Delhi, Jodhpur, Nagpur, Rishikesh). He also announced other mega joint initiatives between the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the Ministry of AYUSH, including the Multicentre clinical trial on anaemia and the launch of Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS) for AYUSH healthcare facilities. The Union Health Minister also inaugurated the 27th convocation of Rashtriya Ayurveda Vidyapeeth and the 29th National Seminar on ‘Ayurvedo Amritanam’ on the occasion.
International Diplomacy and Collaborations: In 2024, the Ministry of Ayush continued to strengthen global relationships. On March 1, a meeting was held with H.E. Dr. Godfrey Majoni Chipare, Ambassador of the Republic of Zimbabwe, to discuss future collaborations in the field of traditional medicine. Additionally, India signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Vietnam’s Traditional Medicine Administration and Malaysia, reinforcing Ayush as a global leader in wellness and healthcare.
World Homoeopathy Day: The Ministry of Ayush commemorated World Homoeopathy Day on April 10, 2024, celebrating the profound contributions of homoeopathy to the world of medicine. This special day is observed annually to honour the birth anniversary of Dr Samuel Hahnemann, the founder of homoeopathy, and to recognise the role this alternative system of medicine has played in global health.
10th International Day of Yoga 2024: The Ministry of Ayush celebrated the 10th International Day of Yoga (IDY) on 21st June 2024, where Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi led the International Yoga Day Celebrations at Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar. This year’s theme, ‘Yoga for Self and Society,’ emphasised yoga’s vital role in fostering individual well-being and societal harmony. The IDY 2024 was also promoted through the Common Service Centre, a special-purpose vehicle of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. Over 1,25,000 village-level entrepreneurs were identified for enrolment in CYP Volunteer Certification Courses, and they then acted as catalysts for the mass mobilisation of citizens on 21st June. Over seven crore people have enthusiastically taken the Yoga pledge, demonstrating a widespread commitment to embracing the principles and practices of Yoga.
IDY-2024 achieved another milestone by reaching a total participation of approx. 24.53 crore. Social media engagement reached 34,890,990 individuals, while community radio stations contributed 2,600,000 participants. Nationally, significant participation came from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, schools, Anganwadi centres, and various government and private organisations. Internationally, Indian embassies and leading yoga institutes engaged around 545,000 people. This extensive participation underscores the broad impact of the initiatives
In addition to the accomplishments of the previous International Day of Yoga, this year’s event set numerous records and was once again added to the Guinness Book of World Records.
Guinness World Records:
- 25.93 lakh people took an online pledge as part of the Yoga Shapath Abhiyan in Uttar Pradesh
- Five new records set by Akshar Yoga Kendra, founder Yogi Himalayan Siddhaa Akshar
- 1,000 students, including 600 differently-abled, performed yoga asanas together in Andhra Pradesh
- Longest continuous yoga practice (12 hours) by Dr. Radhakrishnan Sarvepalli Rajasthan Ayurveda University in Jodhpur, Rajasthan
- Many institutions came together in Jaipur, coordinated by Jaipur Municipal Corporation and Govt of Rajasthan and practised yoga for more than 1500 minutes and created a new world record.
Collaborations and Agreements with Global Partners: The Government of India and the World Health Organization signed a Donor Agreement during a signing ceremony organised at WHO Headquarters in Geneva on 31st July 2024. This agreement outlines the financial terms for implementing the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre (GTMC) in Jamnagar, Gujarat. The agreement was signed by Mr Arindam Bagchi, Permanent Representative of India to the UN, Geneva and Dr Bruce Aylward, Assistant Director-General for Universal Health Coverage and Life Course Division of WHO. Through this collaboration, the Government of India has committed US$ 85 million over a period of 10 years (2022-2032) to support the operations of the WHO GTMC in Jamnagar. The Donor agreement recognises the establishment of the WHO GTMC as a key knowledge hub for evidence-based Traditional Complementary and Integrative Medicine (TCIM).
Prime Minister’s Vision for Viksit Bharat 2047: In his 78th Independence Day speech, the Hon’ble Prime Minister outlined the vision of making India a hub for traditional medicine by 2047. He emphasised the role of Ayurveda and other traditional systems in transforming global healthcare and positioning India as the leader in holistic healthcare.
World Food India: The Ministry of Ayush showcased the significant role of Ayurveda and different traditional medicine systems of India in modern nutrition and wellness through the Ayush Pavilion at the World Food India 2024 event, organised at Pragati Maidan from 19th September to 22nd September 2024. The Ayush Ministry’s pavilion showcased Ayurveda Aahar, a concept that blends traditional wisdom with contemporary food solutions and attracts global attention. The event, graced by senior dignitaries and attended by stakeholders worldwide, emphasised India’s rich tradition of Ayurveda-inspired food practices and their relevance to current global health challenges.
Foundation Day: Smt. Droupadi Murmu, the President of India, attended the 8th Foundation Day of the All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) in New Delhi. Shri Vinay Saxena, the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, and Shri Prataprao Jadhav, Minister of State(IC) for Ayush, were also present on occasion, along with senior officials from the Ministry of Ayush and AIIA. The President launched the Ayush Aushadhi Pharmacy Programme and revealed the Shashwat Ayush Expo.
First Ayush Aushadhi Kendra: The launch of the Ayush Aushadhi Pharmacy Programme and the unveiling of the Shashwat Ayush Expo by the President of India marked the inauguration of the Foundation Day celebrations. The pharmacy aims to make quality Ayurvedic medicines accessible to all, enhancing healthcare delivery through Ayurveda.
9th Ayurveda Day: On the occasion of Dhanvantari Jayanti and the 9th Ayurveda Day, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi launched, inaugurated, and laid the foundation stone of multiple health sector projects worth around ₹12,850 crore at the All-India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), New Delhi. Shri J.P. Nadda, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare & Chemicals & Fertilizers; Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, Minister of Labour and Employment & Youth Affairs and Sports, Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary Ayush, Dr. Manoj Nesari (Advisor, Ayush), and others dignitaries were present on the occasion.
- PM Modi Inaugurated Phase II of India’s First All-India Institute of Ayurved in Delhi: Among the projects launched under the Ministry of Ayush, the Prime Minister inaugurated Phase II of AIIA, which is India’s First All India Institute of Ayurveda. This phase, a significant project with a total cost of ₹258.73 crores, includes key features such as a 150-bed Panchakarma hospital, an Ayurvedic pharmacy for drug manufacturing, a sports medicine unit, a central library, an IT and start-ups centre, a 500-seat auditorium, and guest houses for both general and international visitors.
- PM laid Foundation Stone for two Yoga & Naturopathy Institutes in Odisha & Chhattisgarh: To capitalise on the growing interest of the international community in Indian health and wellness solutions, especially yoga, and to boost R&D in the domain, the Prime Minister laid the foundation stones of two Central Research Institutes in Yoga and Naturopathy (CRIYNs) at Khorda (Odisha) and Raipur (Chhattisgarh), along with other significant projects.
- Prime Minister launched Nationwide Campaign Desh Ka Prakriti Parikshan Abhiyan: A nationwide campaign promoting health awareness and highlighting the importance of holistic well-being in daily life. Led by Shri Prataprao Jadhav, Union Minister of State (I/C), Ministry of Ayush, with 4,70,000 dedicated volunteers, this campaign aims to revolutionise health awareness efforts among citizens and will also attempt multiple Guinness World Records
- Prime Minister inaugurates four Centers of Excellence in Ayush: The Prime Minister launched four Ayush Centres of Excellence (CoEs), each targeting specific health research and innovation areas. Centre of Excellence for Diabetes and Metabolic Disorders at the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, focused on prediabetes and diabetes research and Ayurvedic formulation validation; Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Ayush at IIT Delhi, dedicated to developing advanced technological solutions, supporting start-ups, and creating net-zero sustainable solutions for Rasaushadhis; Centre of Excellence for Fundamental and Translational Research in Ayurveda at CDRI Lucknow, focused on advanced research in Ayurvedic botanicals like Ashwagandha; Centre of Excellence on Ayurveda and Systems Medicine at JNU, New Delhi, aimed at researching the molecular mechanisms of Ayurvedic treatments for rheumatoid arthritis using systems medicine.
AROHA-2024: The first-ever International conference of All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA)- Advancements of Research & Global Opportunities for Holistic Ayurveda – AROHA-2024 was inaugurated by Dr. Justice Dhananjaya Yeshwant Chandrachud, Hon’ble Chief Justice of India in the august presence of Shri Prataprao Jadhav, Hon’ble Minister of State (Independent Charge) for the Ministry of Ayush and Health & Family Welfare.
7th Naturopathy Day: The 7th Naturopathy Day was celebrated at the Central Research Institute of Yoga and Naturopathy (CRIYN), Nagamangala, under the aegis of the Central Council for Research in Yoga & Naturopathy (CCRYN), Ministry of Ayush. The event drew participation from over 800 doctors, undergraduate and postgraduate scholars from across India, representing states such as Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Manipur.
Ministry of Ayush Pavilion won Silver medal at IITF2024: The Ayush Pavilion at the 43rd India International Trade Fair (IITF) received widespread acclaim for its innovative approach to promoting health and wellness. Interactive exhibits, fun learning activities like the Ayurveda-inspired Snakes and Ladders game, and a drawing competition for kids captivated visitors. At the same time, live yoga demonstrations at the pavilion showcased the power of holistic health practices. These efforts not only won the hearts of the public but also earned a silver medal for the Ministry of Ayush at IITF 2024. The Pavilion, themed ‘आयुष के साथ स्वस्थ भारत, विकसित भारत’ (Healthy India, Developed India with Ayush), was a vibrant display of India’s traditional health and wellness systems, as well as the Ministry’s latest initiatives. The interactive exhibits and innovative projects, such as ‘Ayush Visa’ and ‘Ayush Aahar’ were well-received by visitors and international stakeholders.
2024 has been a year of significant achievements, new collaborations, and global recognition for the Ministry of Ayush. With a forward-looking agenda, the Ministry remains committed to ensuring that traditional medicine and wellness practices continue to play a pivotal role in promoting health, sustainability, and global cooperation.
