India Expands AI Integration Across Ayush Sector With New Initiatives
At a glance
- The Ministry of Ayush and IndiaAI signed an MoU on 31 July 2026.
- Ayush Grid uses AI in healthcare, research, and education.
- AIKosh platform will host health research artefacts for collaboration.
The Ministry of Ayush is advancing the use of artificial intelligence in traditional medicine and public health through new partnerships and digital platforms. These developments aim to enhance research, service delivery, and innovation across the Ayush sector.
On 31 July 2026, the Ministry of Ayush and IndiaAI (MeitY) signed a Memorandum of Understanding to promote AI-driven innovation in areas such as research, medicinal plants, drug administration, capacity building, and digital health. As part of this agreement, the Ministry will onboard the AIKosh platform to share eligible health research artefacts, including datasets, metadata, AI models, toolkits, and use cases, to support collaboration and innovation.
The Ayush Grid digital platform is being enhanced with artificial intelligence across multiple domains, including healthcare, research, education, information services, and investment facilitation. AI-based chatbots such as MAISP, eLMS, e-CHARAK, ARP Research Assistant, Yoga Saarthi, and Nivesh Saarthi are among the tools being integrated to support these functions.
The Ayush Grid connects various aspects of the sector, including healthcare, research, education, drug administration, and medicinal plants, through 24 e-governance platforms. More than 5,386 facilities have joined the Ayush Hospital Management Information System (A-HMIS), and 6,002 facilities have been mapped using the PM GatiShakti Ayush Asset Mapping Tool.
What the numbers show
- MoU between Ministry of Ayush and IndiaAI signed on 31 July 2026.
- 24 e-governance platforms are part of the Ayush Grid.
- Over 5,386 facilities onboarded to A-HMIS.
- 6,002 facilities mapped via the PM GatiShakti Ayush Asset Mapping Tool.
- Innovation Challenge offers up to INR 1 crore contracts for AI solutions.
At the India-AI Impact Summit 2026, the Ayush Pavilion presented AI-powered chatbots and a Yoga Posture AI system capable of real-time posture analysis. These technologies demonstrated applications for clinical decision-making, standardisation, research analytics, and public health outreach within Ayush disciplines.
The Ministry is working with IndiaAI and Bhashini to make Ayush Grid portals accessible in 22 scheduled Indian languages. This collaboration is intended to broaden access and usability for diverse user groups across India.
A Centre of Excellence in AyurTech was sanctioned at IIT Jodhpur under the Ayurswasthya scheme. This centre integrates artificial intelligence, functional genomics, digital health, and electronics to develop evidence-based precision health interventions.
The Ayush Grid serves as the sector’s IT backbone, incorporating AI and machine learning into healthcare, research and development, education, and awareness. Key platforms include A-HMIS, the Ayush Research Portal, and the NAMASTE Portal, supporting digital transformation across the sector.
The IndiaAI-Ministry of Ayush Innovation Challenge 2026 invites proposals for AI solutions in AYUSH-enabled public health systems. Selected innovators receive pilot support and may be awarded government contracts of up to INR 1 crore for two years. The challenge, in partnership with MSME, also provides INR 25 lakh for shortlisted teams to develop their solutions.
* This article is based on publicly available information at the time of writing.