India is positioning its traditional medicine systems at the centre of global health policy discourse with the Ayush Expo, a flagship feature of the Second WHO Global Traditional Medicine Summit (GTMC), to be held from 17–19 December at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.

Organised by the Ministry of Ayush in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), the Expo is designed as more than a showcase. It aims to function as a policy, science and innovation platform, bringing together India’s Ayush systems alongside traditional medicine practices from across WHO Member States, aligned with the Summit’s focus on evidence-informed, safe and inclusive integration of traditional medicine into global health systems.

The Ayush Expo will present a curated, science-led representation of Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa-Rigpa and Homoeopathy, using immersive exhibits, digital interfaces and research-oriented narratives to translate classical knowledge into globally relevant public-health applications.

“The Ayush Expo is designed to present India’s traditional medicine systems in a scientifically grounded and globally relevant manner,” said Prof. (Dr.) Tanuja Manoj Nesari, Director, Institute of Teaching and Research in Ayurveda (ITRA). “By bringing classical knowledge, evidence-based practices and emerging technologies onto a single platform, the Expo seeks to strengthen research collaboration and support responsible integration into contemporary health systems.”

Key exhibits include a Medicinal Plants and Seeds Pavilion, featuring nearly 40 live medicinal plants and rare seeds; a Spices of India Pavilion highlighting the scientific basis of culinary herbs in preventive health; and a Metallotherapeutics Zone explaining classical purification processes, bhasma preparation and modern safety validation protocols.

Reflecting the sector’s technology turn, the Expo will feature an Ayush NextGen Start-ups Pavilion, showcasing applications in artificial intelligence, predictive diagnostics, wellness devices and digital health platforms. Interactive engagement will include virtual reality-based Yoga and Panchakarma experiences, holographic displays, and demonstrations of the Ayush Grid, India’s digital infrastructure supporting education, research, healthcare delivery and international outreach.

The Expo will also host a dedicated WHO Zone, where countries across regions will present their traditional medicine systems, Indigenous knowledge practices and community-based health models. Curated by WHO, the zone will emphasise nature-based solutions, healthy ecosystems and social innovation in health.

A major milestone at the Expo will be the launch of the Global Traditional Medicine Library (GTML) by WHO—a global digital repository intended to aggregate traditional medicine knowledge, data and research evidence, enabling scientific collaboration, evidence-based policymaking and international visibility for traditional medicine systems.

Officials noted that the Ayush Expo stands out for its scientific curation, global integration, use of advanced digital technologies and emphasis on accountability. By placing traditional knowledge within a framework of evidence, ethics and governance, the Expo aims to demonstrate how such systems can contribute meaningfully to equitable, sustainable and people-centred global health solutions.

The Ministry of Ayush has invited global delegates, partners and media to engage with the Expo as part of the WHO Summit, reinforcing India’s role—alongside WHO—in shaping the future of traditional medicine within global health systems.