Modi praised the NCC rally for youth engagement and celebrated India's heritage, reflecting on recent national pride commemorations and honoring war heroes.
In this screengrab from a video released on Jan. 28, 2026, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses a gathering during NCC Rally at Cariappa Ground, in New Delhi. (@NarendraModi/YT via PTI Photo)
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said the recently announced historic trade agreement with the European Union will provide a major boost to India’s traditional medicine services and practitioners.
In a video address to the centenary celebrations of Arya Vaidya Sala Charitable Hospital in Kerala, the Prime Minister said AYUSH practitioners will be able to offer their services abroad based on professional qualifications earned in India, significantly benefiting youth associated with Ayurveda and Yoga. He added that the agreement would also facilitate the establishment of AYUSH wellness centres in Europe.
Modi observed that while Ayurveda has treated people for centuries, sustained efforts have often been required—both in India and overseas—to explain its value. He attributed this to the earlier lack of evidence-based research and noted that public trust strengthens when Ayurvedic practices are validated through scientific methods.
Expressing satisfaction, the Prime Minister said Arya Vaidya Sala has consistently tested Ayurveda on the touchstone of science and research, working in collaboration with institutions such as Council of Scientific and Industrial Research and Indian Institutes of Technology. He pointed out that the institution’s focus on drug research, clinical research and cancer care—along with the establishment of a Centre of Excellence for cancer research with support from the Ministry of Ayush—marked an important milestone.
The Prime Minister said Arya Vaidya Sala has shown that tradition and modernity can move together, making healthcare a foundation of trust in people’s lives. He noted that ancient medical systems were earlier viewed in silos, but this approach has changed over the past decade with the adoption of a holistic healthcare framework.
He said Ayurveda, Unani, Homeopathy, Siddha and Yoga are now being brought under one umbrella through the creation of the Ministry of Ayush. Emphasising preventive healthcare, Modi highlighted initiatives such as the National Ayush Mission and the establishment of over 12,000 Ayush Wellness Centres offering yoga, preventive care and community health services.
The Prime Minister said Ayush services have also been integrated with hospitals across the country, with emphasis on uninterrupted supply of Ayush medicines, ensuring the reach of traditional medical knowledge to every corner of India.
Highlighting the impact of government policy, Modi said the AYUSH manufacturing sector has expanded rapidly. To take Indian traditional wellness to global markets, the government set up the Ayush Export Promotion Council, which is already yielding positive results. He noted that AYUSH and herbal product exports have risen from about ₹3,000 crore in 2014 to ₹6,500 crore, benefiting farmers significantly.
Modi said India is also emerging as a trusted destination for AYUSH-based medical value travel, aided by initiatives such as the AYUSH visa for foreign visitors. He added that Ayurveda is being promoted on major global platforms, including BRICS and G20 summits, as a pathway to holistic health.
He further noted that the World Health Organization’s Global Traditional Medicine Centre is being established in Jamnagar, Gujarat, and that the Institute of Teaching and Research in Ayurveda has already begun operations there. To meet rising demand for Ayurvedic medicines, medicinal farming is also being encouraged along the banks of the Ganga, he added.
( Source : Deccan Chronicle )
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