How non-government colleges are dominating India’s AYUSH education boom

Non-government colleges have emerged as the dominant force in India's burgeoning AYUSH (Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, Yoga, Naturopathy, and Homoeopathy) medical education sector. According to government data from April 2024, 467 of the 541 Ayurveda colleges were non-government entities, accounting for nearly 86% of the total. Similarly, 85% of Homoeopathy colleges and a majority of colleges in Unani and Yoga/Naturopathy systems were non-government.

India's AYUSH push is not merely a revival of traditional medicine but an effort to integrate these systems into the formal healthcare system. The modern state has treated AYUSH as a collection of systems requiring institutions, education, regulation, and research. AYUSH gained formal recognition in 2014 when it became a Union ministry.

The expansion of AYUSH medical education has been rapid, with the number of AYUSH colleges rising from 789 in 2021 to 971 in 2024, and admission capacity increasing from 63,477 to 79,593. However, the institutions providing this education have largely been non-government. In Ayurveda, 85% of the colleges were non-government, while in Homoeopathy, 85% were also non-government-run.

This growth in non-government AYUSH colleges has led to a growing pipeline of practitioners, but it also brings a responsibility to ensure the quality of education, clinical training, regulation, and employment. The government aims to make AYUSH part of a broader healthcare system rather than seeking to replace modern medicine. This requires evidence-based practice, patient safety, proper referral, and clearly defined professional roles, as stated by an AYUSH official.