The Government of India has intensified efforts to promote medicinal plant cultivation, strengthen tribal livelihoods and enforce stringent quality standards for Ayush products through a comprehensive policy framework led by the Ministry of Ayush, Union Minister of State Independent Charge for Ayush Pratap Rao Jadhav informed the Rajya Sabha.
The National Medicinal Plants Board under the Ministry of Ayush is implementing a Central Sector Scheme for Conservation Development and Sustainable Management of Medicinal Plants across the country, including Odisha and its tribal dominated districts such as Mayurbhanj. The scheme adopts a multi dimensional approach combining conservation, cultivation, value addition, research and market linkages to create a sustainable ecosystem for medicinal plants.
Under the scheme, project based support is extended for in situ conservation through the establishment of Medicinal Plants Conservation and Development Areas, alongside ex situ conservation through herbal gardens and nurseries. Resource augmentation initiatives, species specific campaigns and research and development activities are also being undertaken to ensure long term sustainability of medicinal plant resources.
In Odisha, 27 projects have been supported for conservation and resource augmentation, while 10 herbal gardens and six nursery and planting material initiatives have been established. In Mayurbhanj district, one herbal garden and one nursery project have been supported, reflecting targeted interventions in tribal regions. Information education and communication activities, including training programmes, workshops and stakeholder consultations, have also been conducted to build awareness and capacity among local communities.
The scheme places strong emphasis on livelihood generation by linking forest fringe communities, including tribal farmers, with Joint Forest Management Committees, Panchayats, Van Panchayats, Biodiversity Management Committees and Self Help Groups. These linkages facilitate the development of local clusters for value addition, drying, warehousing and marketing infrastructure, thereby enhancing income opportunities and strengthening rural economies.
To further support farmers, the National Medicinal Plants Board through its Regional Cum Facilitation Centres provides quality planting material and imparts training on Good Agricultural Practices and Good Field Collection Practices. These interventions aim to improve productivity, ensure sustainable harvesting and enhance the quality of produce.
The Government of Odisha has complemented these efforts through awareness programmes, training sessions, seminars, regional herbal fairs and exposure visits, while the State Medicinal Plants Board provides technical guidance to farmers. These initiatives have collectively contributed to expanding cultivation, improving market access and increasing income generation in tribal regions.
To facilitate market access and information exchange, the Ministry of Ayush has launched the e CHARAK mobile application and web portal. The platform enables farmers and stakeholders to access real time information, including fortnightly market prices of around 100 medicinal plants across 25 herbal markets in India, and supports multiple local languages to ensure wider accessibility.
Parallelly, the government has strengthened regulatory mechanisms to ensure the safety, quality and efficacy of Ayush medicines. The Pharmacopoeia Commission for Indian Medicine and Homoeopathy, functioning under the Ministry of Ayush, lays down mandatory pharmacopoeial standards and formulary specifications for Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Homoeopathy drugs, covering parameters such as identity, purity and strength.
Compliance with these standards is mandatory under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act 1940 and the Drugs Rules 1945. Manufacturers are required to adhere to Good Manufacturing Practices as specified in Schedule T and Schedule M I, and must obtain licensing approvals based on proof of safety and effectiveness.
The Pharmacopoeia Commission also functions as the Central Drugs Laboratory for Indian systems of medicine and homoeopathy, conducting testing and analysis of drugs. It regularly trains drug regulatory authorities and state drug analysts to strengthen laboratory practices and quality assurance mechanisms.
To support quality monitoring, 34 government drug testing laboratories across states and union territories and 108 approved private laboratories are actively engaged in testing Ayurveda Siddha Sowa Rigpa and Unani drugs. Drug inspectors routinely collect samples from manufacturing units and retail outlets, and strict legal action is initiated against products found to be not of standard quality, including prohibition of sale and prosecution under relevant legal provisions.
The government has also strengthened certification frameworks to enhance global credibility of Ayush products. An Ayush vertical has been established within the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization, which issues WHO Certificate of Pharmaceutical Product for compliant products. Additionally, the Quality Council of India implements certification schemes that grant Ayush Standard Mark and Ayush Premium Mark based on third party evaluation of quality.
A new Ayush Quality Mark aligned with global standards was launched during the WHO Global Summit in December 2025, aimed at enhancing consumer confidence and facilitating international acceptance of Ayush products.
Research and innovation form a critical pillar of the government’s strategy. Apex research bodies including the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences, Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine, Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy, Central Council for Research in Siddha and Central Council for Research in Yoga and Naturopathy are engaged in multidisciplinary research covering medicinal plants, drug standardisation, pharmacology, clinical studies and tribal healthcare.
The Ministry of Ayush is also implementing the Ayurgyan Scheme, which supports research and innovation in Ayush systems, including Ayurveda biology and integrated health research, through financial assistance to institutions and organisations.
These combined initiatives are aimed at promoting conservation of biodiversity, strengthening traditional knowledge systems, ensuring quality assurance in Ayush products and enhancing livelihood opportunities for farmers, particularly in tribal and rural areas, while positioning India as a global leader in traditional medicine and herbal products.
