New Delhi

NITI Aayog has proposed a comprehensive strategy to expand Ayurveda's global footprint, recommending measures such as the creation of a Global Ayurveda Register (GAR) and a coordinated approach to securing wider international recognition for India's traditional system of medicine.

In its report, 'Strategic Roadmap for Making Ayurveda Global', released on Thursday, the policy think tank also recommended establishing a World Federation for Ayurveda and Yoga and developing an Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia – Export Edition to support international acceptance and standardisation.

Among its key recommendations, NITI Aayog suggested setting up a real-time Ayurveda trade dashboard to monitor global trade trends and strengthen the sector's export potential.

The report also called for closer collaboration between industry and academic institutions to promote research, innovation and global outreach for Ayurveda.

Highlighting India's strengths, NITI Aayog noted that Ayurveda is a well-established and regulated system of traditional medicine with a robust domestic ecosystem comprising more than 355,000 trained practitioners. However, it pointed out that nearly 95 per cent of qualified Ayurveda professionals are based in India, indicating limited international representation.

The report observed that Ayurveda products are currently exported to around 150 countries, with exports increasing from USD 1.09 billion in 2014 to USD 2.16 billion in 2023.

It also emphasised the need to expand the global availability of trained practitioners, improve legal recognition of Ayurveda across countries and strengthen manufacturing capabilities to support international demand.

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According to NITI Aayog, wider global adoption of Ayurveda could create significant economic opportunities by driving growth in healthcare products, wellness services and medical value tourism while enhancing India's role in the global traditional medicine sector.