Ministry of Ayush Expands Use of Artificial Intelligence in Ayurveda and Traditional Medicine
The Ministry of Ayush is promoting AI technology across healthcare, research, and education, launching several specialized chatbots and digital initiatives.
Building upon the digital foundation of the Ayush Grid, the Ministry of Ayush has decided to adopt Artificial Intelligence (AI) as the next key technology for Ayurveda and the broader Ayush sector. The Ministry is currently exploring the potential applications of AI in the fields of healthcare, research, education, information services, and investment facilitation.
Under this initiative, several specialized AI-based chatbots have been developed. Through the MAISP chatbot, the general public can obtain information related to Ayurveda and Ayush. For researchers, the 'ARP Research Assistant' has been created, which utilizes generative AI to help search for and understand literature related to Ayush subjects. Additionally, the 'e-LMS Chatbot' provides student life cycle management for educational institutions, while the 'e-Charak Chatbot' is linked to the trade of medicinal plants and the mechanisms of Ayurvedic pharmacology. 'Yoga Sarathi' has been developed for yoga-related suggestions, and 'Nivesh Sarathi' has been created to provide investment assistance.
During the IndiaAI Impact Summit 2026, a specific example from the Ministry of Ayush titled “AI-based Decision Support for Ayurveda: Retrieval Augmented Generation Approach” was included in the Health AI Casebook, prepared in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO). This step represents a significant effort toward strengthening evidence-based Ayurvedic knowledge through generative AI and RAG technology.
Through the 'IndiaAI Innovation Challenge,' the Ministry is developing solutions such as voice-based electronic health records, identification of disease trends, and personalized treatment support. Furthermore, in collaboration with the 'Digital India Bhashini' division of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, the Ayush Grid portals are now available in 22 scheduled languages of India, which will increase accessibility for practitioners and students.
Notably, on July 11, 2025, the World Health Organization, the International Telecommunication Union, and the World Intellectual Property Organization jointly released a technical report on the use of AI in traditional medicine, emphasizing a responsible and evidence-based approach. The objective of the Ministry of Ayush is not to replace traditional knowledge with technology, but to make it more accessible, searchable, and evidence-based through AI.
