The Union Budget 2026–27 has announced three new All India Institutes of Ayurveda and 10 allied health disciplines, aiming to train one lakh professionals over five years.
India’s Union Budget 2026-27, presented on February 1, 2026, announced the establishment of three new all India Institutes of Ayurveda.
In addition, establishment of 10 new allied health disciplines such as optometry, anesthesia, applied psychology, and behavioral health. The goal is to train one lakh Allied Health Professionals (AHP) over the next five years.
The move aims to expand access to Ayurveda-based healthcare and improve service delivery under the Ayush system. Sitharaman said the new institutes will support education, research and clinical services, while modernising pharmacies will help ensure better availability and quality of medicines for patients.
The initiative aligns with the broader Ayush enhancements, such as training 1.5 lakh caregivers for wellness and yoga services and expansion in natural Ayurvedic products and centres.
The move supports India’s push for integrative healthcare, potentially reducing long-term costs by promoting Ayush in insurance schemes like Ayushman Bharat. It also ties into global interests, with the prior inaugurations of similar facilities highlighted by PM Narendra Modi.
Sitharaman also said that the central government will support states in setting up five hubs for medical tourism.
Furthermore, the Finance Minister proposed the upgradation of the WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine in Gujarat’s Jamnagar to strengthen India’s role in global traditional healthcare systems.
“I propose to set up three new All India Institutes of Ayurveda; Upgrade Ayush pharmacies and drug testing labs and make available more skilled persons; Upgrade the WHO global Traditional Medicine Centre in Jamnagar,” Sitharaman said in her speech.
“There are no national institutes for mental healthcare in North India. We will therefore set up a NIMHANS-2 and also upgrade National Mental MCN. Institutes in Ranchi and in Tezpur as regional apex institutions,” the Finance Minister said.
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