National Institutes under the Ministry of AYUSH
Nodal Ministry: Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India
Objective: To develop AYUSH systems (Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, Homoeopathy, and Naturopathy) through education, research, clinical services, and public outreach.
1. What Are National AYUSH Institutes?
The National Institutes are premier government organizations established to promote high-quality education, research, and patient care in various AYUSH systems.
They serve as centres of excellence that:
- Train future AYUSH professionals,
- Conduct scientific and clinical research, and
- Provide specialized AYUSH treatment to the public.
In simple terms:
National Institutes are India’s top AYUSH universities and hospitals where traditional medicine meets modern science.
2. Objectives
| Goal | Description |
|---|---|
| Education & Training | Provide undergraduate, postgraduate, and PhD programs in AYUSH disciplines. |
| Research & Innovation | Conduct scientific studies to validate and improve traditional practices. |
| Patient Care | Offer affordable, high-quality AYUSH treatment to the public. |
| Global Outreach | Represent India internationally for AYUSH diplomacy and cooperation. |
| Documentation | Preserve classical medical manuscripts and update national databases. |
Roles & Activities
- Education & Degree Programs – UG, PG, and Doctoral courses in AYUSH systems.
- Research & Development – Fundamental, clinical, drug, and public health research.
- Patient Care Services – Hospitals with specialized AYUSH departments.
- Public Awareness – Health camps, yoga sessions, AYUSH melas, and publications.
- International Cooperation – Exchange programs with WHO and foreign universities.
Major National Institutes (System-wise List)
A. Ayurveda
| Institute | Location | Key Focus |
|---|---|---|
| National Institute of Ayurveda (NIA) | Jaipur, Rajasthan | Premier Ayurveda university for education, research, and hospital care. |
| All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) | New Delhi | Centre of Excellence for Integrative and Translational Research in Ayurveda. |
| Institute for Post Graduate Teaching & Research in Ayurveda (IPGT&RA) | Jamnagar, Gujarat | Postgraduate training and advanced pharmacological research. |
| North Eastern Institute of Ayurveda & Homoeopathy (NEIAH) | Shillong, Meghalaya | Dual institute for Ayurveda and Homoeopathy in Northeast India. |
B. Siddha
| Institute | Location | Key Focus |
|---|---|---|
| National Institute of Siddha (NIS) | Chennai, Tamil Nadu | Apex Siddha research and education centre under Ministry of AYUSH. |
| Central Council for Research in Siddha (CCRS) | Chennai | Collaborates with NIS for research and standardization. |
C. Unani
| Institute | Location | Key Focus |
|---|---|---|
| National Institute of Unani Medicine (NIUM) | Bengaluru, Karnataka | Premier Unani postgraduate institute with a large hospital wing. |
| Regional Research Institute of Unani Medicine (RRIUM) | Aligarh / Chennai / Lucknow | Regional Unani research centres supporting community health. |
D. Homoeopathy
| Institute | Location | Key Focus |
|---|---|---|
| National Institute of Homoeopathy (NIH) | Kolkata, West Bengal | Top Homoeopathy college and hospital for education and research. |
| North Eastern Institute of Ayurveda & Homoeopathy (NEIAH) | Shillong, Meghalaya | Promotes Homoeopathy in Northeast India. |
E. Yoga & Naturopathy
| Institute | Location | Key Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga (MDNIY) | New Delhi | Training, teacher education, and research in Yoga therapy. |
| National Institute of Naturopathy (NIN) | Pune, Maharashtra | Research, education, and clinical services in natural living and healing. |
| Central Council for Research in Yoga & Naturopathy (CCRYN) | New Delhi | National research council for Yoga and Naturopathy. |
4. Special & Regional Institutes
| Institute | Location | Function |
|---|---|---|
| North Eastern Institute of Folk Medicine (NEIFM) | Pasighat, Arunachal Pradesh | Documentation and validation of traditional folk medicine practices. |
| National Institute of Sowa Rigpa (NISR) | Leh, Ladakh | Preserves and promotes the Tibetan-origin Sowa Rigpa medicine system. |
| National Institute of Medicinal Plants (NIMP) | Lucknow (Proposed) | Conservation and research on Indian medicinal flora. |
Who Benefits
| Beneficiary Type | How They Benefit |
|---|---|
| Students | Get quality AYUSH education and training. |
| AYUSH Practitioners | Access advanced training and research opportunities. |
| Researchers | Collaborate on AYUSH innovation and validation. |
| Public / Patients | Receive effective and affordable AYUSH treatments. |
| International Scholars | Learn and collaborate through exchange programs. |
Governance & Who’s Who
| Designation | Name | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Secretary, Ministry of AYUSH | Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha | Overall policy and administration of national institutes. |
| Joint Secretary (Education & Institutions) | Dr. Manoj Nesari | Coordination between institutes and councils. |
| Director, AIIA | Prof. (Dr.) Tanuja Nesari | Head of All India Institute of Ayurveda. |
| Director, NIA | Prof. (Dr.) Sanjeev Sharma | Academic and hospital administration. |
| Director, NIS (Siddha) | Dr. R. Meenakshi Sundaram | Research and education in Siddha medicine. |
| Director, NIUM | Prof. (Hakim) Abdul Wahid | Head of Unani postgraduate education. |
| Director, NIH | Dr. Subhas Singh | National leadership in Homoeopathy education. |
| Director, MDNIY | Dr. Ishwar V. Basavaraddi | National leadership in Yoga education and training. |
| Director, NIN (Pune) | Dr. K. Satya Lakshmi | Promotion of Naturopathy and natural living. |
| Director, NISR (Leh) | Dr. Padma Gurmet | Development of Sowa-Rigpa medicine. |
(Names current as of 2025; verify yearly from official AYUSH website.)
Funding & Administration
- Fully or partially funded by Ministry of AYUSH (Government of India).
- Governed by respective Governing Councils or Boards of Management.
- Some institutes have autonomous status under AYUSH.
- Funding includes research grants, student fellowships, and infrastructure development.
Achievements
Over 10,000 AYUSH students trained annually.
World-class hospitals with integrated care.
Publication of scientific journals and monographs.
Recognition as WHO Collaborating Centres (e.g., AIIA, NIS, MDNIY).
Expansion of AYUSH higher education in all regions of India.
Beneficiary Sectors
- Education Sector – AYUSH colleges and universities.
- Healthcare Sector – AYUSH hospitals and wellness centres.
- Research Sector – Collaborative studies with IITs, AIIMS, and CSIR.
- Employment Sector – Doctors, researchers, paramedical staff, and educators.
Contact & Grievance Redressal
Education & Institutions Division, Ministry of AYUSH
📍 AYUSH Bhawan, B-Block, GPO Complex, INA, New Delhi – 110023
📧 Email: education-ayush@gov.in / support@ayush.gov.in
📞 Helpline: 011-24651964 / 011-23340023
🌐 Website: https://ayush.gov.in
For Grievances:
🖥️ https://pgportal.gov.in → Select Ministry of AYUSH → “Education / National Institutes.”
Useful Links
- All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA): https://aiia.gov.in
- National Institute of Ayurveda (NIA): https://nia.nic.in
- National Institute of Siddha (NIS): https://nischennai.org
- National Institute of Unani Medicine (NIUM): https://nium.in
- National Institute of Homoeopathy (NIH): https://nih.nic.in
- Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga (MDNIY): https://yogamdniy.nic.in
- National Institute of Naturopathy (NIN): https://ninpune.ayush.gov.in
- National Institute of Sowa Rigpa (NISR): https://nisr.nic.in
- North Eastern Institute of Ayurveda & Homoeopathy (NEIAH): https://neiah.nic.in
- North Eastern Institute of Folk Medicine (NEIFM): https://neifm.nic.in
