As Yoga and Ayurveda become part of India’s global health diplomacy, experts press for credible standards
India is integrating Yoga and Ayurveda into its global health diplomacy through new trade agreements with Oman, New Zealand, and the EU. These deals aim to formalize AYUSH practices by standardizing qualifications and facilitating practitioner mobility.
Why it matters
This shift marks a strategic effort to transition traditional medicine from a cultural export to a formalized, regulated global service industry.
Yoga and Ayurveda have moved beyond their traditional wellness identity and are increasingly becoming part of India’s global health and diplomatic strategy, with the Centre seeking to expand their footprint through medical tourism, international education, practitioner mobility and trade agreements.
The shift is particularly evident in India’s recent trade diplomacy. The India-Oman Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), operationalised in June 2026, and the India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA) contain dedicated provisions on health-related services and traditional medicine. These include measures to ease licensing, develop standards and facilitate the mobility of AYUSH practitioners and Yoga instructors.
The India-European Union (EU) FTA , signed in January 2026, goes further, allowing AYUSH practitioners to use their Indian qualifications in EU countries where no regulatory framework exists and providing for AYUSH wellness centres and clinics.
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