Ayurveda education soon in schools, colleges, as NCERT and UGC draft modules

The Centre is taking steps to integrate Ayurveda and traditional health knowledge into the country’s school and college curriculum, Union Ayush Minister Prataprao Jadhav has said. Both the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) and the University Grants Commission (UGC) are working jointly on preparing modules that would allow students to learn about holistic health practices from an early stage, reported News 18.

According to Jadhav, several states, including Goa, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Uttar Pradesh, have already begun incorporating the Indian knowledge system into their school syllabi. “Discussions are underway with NCERT and UGC for preparing course modules for school education and higher education,” the minister told PTI, as quoted by News 18.

Highlighting the government’s efforts to build credibility for Ayurveda globally, Jadhav said that research and evidence-based studies remain the focus.

The Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), along with other institutions, is carrying out high-quality clinical trials. In collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO), India is also working on setting global benchmarks for Ayurvedic treatments to strengthen scientific acceptance.

On the frequently raised debate between modern medicine and traditional practices, the minister clarified that the government does not see them as opposing systems. “Allopathy and AYUSH systems are complementary to each other, not competitors. Through the National AYUSH Mission and AYUSH Grid, we are working towards combining the benefits of both systems to provide better and more comprehensive healthcare services,” he said.

The National AYUSH Mission has placed doctors in Health and Wellness Centres, particularly in rural and underserved regions, to reinforce primary healthcare services.

Jadhav underlined India’s achievements in popularising its traditional systems internationally. He pointed to the global acceptance of Yoga, the establishment of the WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine, International Yoga Day, AYUSH Chairs, and several international MoUs as milestones that have given Indian practices a strong international identity.

The ministry, he added, is committed to balanced development-preserving the uniqueness of each system while ensuring research, standardisation, and education. New AYUSH health centres and medicinal gardens are also being developed across the country to expand access to holistic healthcare.