AYUSH education expands in country, but non-government colleges dominate
Data shows that the rapid expansion of AYUSH medical education in India is primarily driven by private, non-government institutions. While seat capacity has increased significantly, government-run colleges remain a minority across various disciplines.
Why it matters
The reliance on private institutions for medical education raises questions about accessibility, quality control, and the future of public health integration.
As the Centre pushes to widen the role of AYUSH in India’s healthcare system — including through greater coverage, rural outreach and integration with mainstream health services — the country’s AYUSH medical education infrastructure has expanded rapidly.
But the expansion appears to have been driven largely by non-government institutions, according to government data.
The number of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH) colleges rose from 789 in 2021 to 971 in 2024, an increase of about 23%. Over the same period, total admission capacity grew from 63,477 to 79,593, or nearly 25%, while permitted seats grew from 50,711 to 72,490 — an increase of about 43%.
The 2021 figures cover Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, Yoga and Naturopathy, Homoeopathy and Sowa-Rigpa. By April 2024, the Ministry registered 541 Ayurveda, 58 Unani, 17 Siddha, 71 Yoga and Naturopathy, 277 Homoeopathy and seven Sowa-Rigpa colleges.
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