The Ministry of Ayush held the inaugural meeting of its newly formed Parliamentary Consultative Committee today in New Delhi, chaired by Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Prataprao Jadhav. Members of Parliament from across political parties in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha participated, underscoring a broad consensus on strengthening and expanding India’s traditional healthcare systems.

Jadhav noted that this is the first time since Ayush became an independent ministry in 2014 that a dedicated Parliamentary Consultative Committee has been constituted. He described the initiative as a pivotal step that will ensure deeper deliberations, sharper policy focus, and enhanced institutional support for Ayush, which has rapidly emerged as a pillar of India’s holistic healthcare framework under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Emphasizing Ayush’s role in expanding healthcare access, Jadhav highlighted the success of Ayushman Arogya Mandirs and the National Ayush Mission, which are delivering health services to millions across India. He also underlined the sector’s economic trajectory, observing that the Ayush industry is steadily advancing towards its $200 billion target.

On the international stage, he cited the success of International Yoga Day 2025 in Visakhapatnam, where over 300,000 participants joined under the theme “Yoga for One Earth, One Health,” a demonstration of yoga’s growing global embrace. He further pointed to initiatives such as Prakriti Parikshan and Moringa-based Ayush diets as examples of India’s commitment to evidence-based research, preventive care, and sustainable lifestyles.

Members of Parliament offered wide-ranging suggestions to deepen public engagement and expand access. Purshottam Rupala called for stronger awareness campaigns through posters, banners, and IEC materials, as well as recognition of grassroots Vaidyas at the village and district levels.

Laxmikant Bajpayee emphasized the crucial role of Ayurveda during the COVID-19 pandemic and advocated for more Ayush Wellness Centres. Dr. Swami Sachidanand Hari Sakshi reaffirmed the Committee’s collective resolve to support the promotion of Ayush. Krishna Prasad Tenneti stressed that a developed India (Viksit Bharat) will only be possible if Ayush continues to expand, urging efforts to increase availability of services and counter myths surrounding traditional systems. Jyotsna Charandas Mahant highlighted the importance of documenting and integrating the traditional healing practices of the Korba tribes of Chhattisgarh into Ayush knowledge frameworks.

The meeting concluded with Jadhav expressing his gratitude to all members for their active participation and constructive inputs. He underscored that their recommendations will be instrumental in strengthening Ayush domestically while positioning India as a global leader in traditional medicine.