New Delhi: Ayurveda today stands at the verge of a transformative era, where scientific validation, innovation and global outreach must complement India’s rich traditional knowledge systems, Union Ayush Minister Prataprao Jadhav said on Thursday.
He made the remarks as he chaired the 27th Meeting of the Governing Body of the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) here.
He emphasised that CCRAS has played a pivotal role in generating evidence-based research and called upon the institution to further strengthen its efforts in making Ayurveda more scientifically robust, globally accepted and accessible.
Jadhav stressed that the next phase of Ayurveda’s growth must focus on technology, entrepreneurship and market linkages.
Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of “Heal by Ayurveda, Heal in India and Make in India”, he said that Ayurveda must emerge as a global healthcare solution through scientific excellence, standardisation and innovation.
He urged CCRAS to promote greater collaboration with international organizations, encourage translational research, and leverage emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence for clinical research, data management and personalised healthcare, while preserving the authenticity and core principles of classical Ayurvedic knowledge.
Highlighting the importance of India’s youth in shaping the future of Ayurveda, Jadhav said that young researchers, startups, entrepreneurs and industry must become active partners in taking Ayurveda from laboratories to the marketplace.
He called for creating a vibrant innovation ecosystem through research grants, incubation support, mentorship and industry partnerships.
The minister also suggested focusing on initiatives such as a Youth Research Fund, an Ayurveda Startup Accelerator, and a Global Ayurveda Challenge to encourage innovation and position India as a global wellness hub.
He urged the governing body to work collectively towards transforming Ayurveda into a modern, evidence-driven and globally competitive healthcare system.
During the meeting, Jadhav virtually inaugurated the Animal House at CCRAS-Regional Ayurveda Research Institute (RARI), Pune, the staff quarters complex at RARI, Ranikhet, and performed the Bhoomi Poojan of the new 50-bedded Ayurveda Hospital at RARI, Nagpur.
He also unveiled CCRAS-PARAMPARA, a flagship initiative for the systematic documentation, evaluation and scientific validation of India’s Local Health Traditions, ethnomedical practices and traditional veterinary knowledge.
Jadhav launched the CCRAS National Research Recognitions portal comprising CCRAS PRAKASA, CCRAS NAVONMESA and CCRAS PRABODH 3MT, a fully digital platform to recognise excellence in postgraduate Ayurveda research, innovation and scientific communication.
He further launched Ayur-dict, CCRAS’s first Android application integrating multiple Ayurveda dictionaries into a single searchable platform. The meeting reviewed the Council’s recent achievements, approved key strategic initiatives and launched major research infrastructure and digital initiatives aimed at strengthening evidence-based Ayurveda.
Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary, Ministry of Ayush, while addressing the Governing Body, said, “The Ministry remains committed to strengthening a research-driven ecosystem where quality infrastructure, digital innovation and scientific excellence together strengthen evidence-based Ayurveda. The initiatives launched today will further enhance research capacity, academic excellence and knowledge accessibility.”
