PROMOTION OF YOGA AND NATUROPATHY IN PUBLIC HEALTH

The Government of India's strategic promotion of Yoga and Naturopathy through the Ministry of Ayush represents a significant policy shift toward integrating traditional systems of medicine into mainstream public health infrastructure. This initiative operates under the Information, Education and Communication (IEC) scheme, a well-established governance mechanism used across ministries to disseminate health awareness and behavioral change communication. The Ministry of Ayush, established as a separate ministry in 2014 (previously a department under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare), has been mandated to develop and propagate Ayush systems — Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy — as viable, evidence-based healthcare options. The celebration of International Day of Yoga (IDY) on 21st June annually since 2015, following its adoption by the UN General Assembly through Resolution 69/131 in December 2014 — proposed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi — marks India's successful soft power diplomacy. The resolution garnered a record 177 co-sponsoring nations, reflecting global recognition of Yoga as a holistic wellness practice. Domestically, IDY has evolved into a massive public health campaign involving schools, armed forces, government offices, and citizens, with expenditure rising sharply to ₹57.38 crore in 2025-26 from ₹24.16 crore in 2023-24, signaling sustained political commitment. Concurrently, Naturopathy Day on 18th November — instituted in 2018 by the Ministry of Ayush — commemorates the day in 1945 when Mahatma Gandhi, a lifelong proponent of nature cure, became the lifetime Chairman of the All India Nature Cure Foundation Trust. This historical linkage reinforces the cultural and philosophical roots of naturopathy in India’s freedom struggle and self-reliance narrative. The Arogya Fairs — both national and state-level — serve as multi-stakeholder platforms bringing together practitioners, researchers, industry, and citizens. The fluctuating expenditure (₹3.60 Cr in 2023-24, dropping to ₹0.90 Cr in 2024-25, then rising to ₹1.80 Cr in 2025-26 for National Fairs) reflects adaptive fiscal planning based on event scale and outreach strategy. Constitutionally, public health falls under the State List (Entry 6, List II, Seventh Schedule), but the Union plays a coordinating and promotional role under Article 246 and Entry 23 (Social Security and Social Insurance) and Entry 26 (Legal, Medical and other Professions) of the Concurrent List. The National Health Policy 2017 explicitly advocates mainstreaming Ayush within the public health system, aligning with SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being). The dual outreach model — physical events combined with digital engagement via social media — reflects the government’s Digital India vision and post-COVID behavioral shifts. This hybrid approach ensures inclusivity across urban-rural and digital divides. Looking ahead, the sharp budgetary increase for IDY 2025-26 suggests a possible mega-event linked to India’s G20 presidency legacy or the 10th anniversary of IDY in 2025. Future implications include deeper integration of Yoga in school curricula (NEP 2020 supports this), insurance coverage for Ayush treatments under Ayushman Bharat, and global standardization of Yoga certification — positioning India as the world’s wellness capital.