“Navigating the Government Connect: Unlock Grants, Subsidies, Policy Alignment & Zero-Cost Growth Opportunities”
Budget 2025-26:
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE; DEMAND NO. 4; Ministry of Ayush …
8. Ayurswasthay Yojana: This is an umbrella scheme containing of previous scheme of Ministry of Ayush namely AYUSH and Public Health Initiatives (PHI) and Centre of excellence (CoE). The main objective of Ayush for Public Health initiatives is to support innovative proposals of Government and private organization to promote AYUSH interventions for community health care for achieving Sustainable Development Goal-2 (SDG2) & Sustainable Development Goal-3 (SDG 3) and documentations of the efficacy of AYUSH systems through AYUSH interventions in various public health issues which can be taken up in larger scale for implementation in national health programmes. The main objective of Centre of excellence is to support creative and innovative proposals for establishment and up-gradation of both functions and facilities of reputed institutions to strengthen competencies of AYUSH professionals in Education technology, Research & innovation and such other fields necessary for promotion of AYUSH at National as well as International level.
Excellent, Mukesh! The Ayurswasthya Yojana is a hidden powerhouse — a hybrid that fuses community health innovation with institutional excellence, and opens doors for healthtech, diagnostics, public health, and research-driven startups. What makes this special is that it supports both grassroots interventions and global positioning of AYUSH science — a true “lab to last-mile” strategy.
Here’s your eighth playcard in the Navigating the Government Connect format:
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🟢 Navigating the Government Connect
🔹 Budget 2025–26 | Ministry of Ayush
Scheme: Ayurswasthya Yojana
Focus: Innovative AYUSH-based public health interventions (PHI) + institutional Centres of Excellence (CoE) to advance AYUSH science, education, and outreach
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1️⃣ Budget Snapshot & Allocation Purpose
Dual Scheme Composition:
• Public Health Initiatives (PHI):
o Fund innovative AYUSH-based health programs in areas like nutrition, maternal health, NCDs, mental health, immunity, school health, etc.
o Focus on SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 3 (Good Health & Well-being)
o Emphasis on pilot models that can scale into national health programs
• Centres of Excellence (CoE):
o Support for institutions upgrading education, research, training, and digital infrastructure in AYUSH
o Position India as a global knowledge hub for traditional medicine
Funding Instruments:
• Grants to private institutions, NGOs, and govt-linked bodies
• Preference for data-backed, scalable, and replicable models
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2️⃣ Analytical Insights
1. AYUSH as Primary Care Option: PHI makes AYUSH more than “alternative”— it positions it as part of community health delivery in issues like anemia, lifestyle diseases, school nutrition, etc.
2. Research-Driven Proof of Efficacy: This scheme actively funds documentation, impact studies, and pilots — ideal for startups focused on evidence-backed health interventions.
3. Institutions Need Tech Partners: CoE grants can catalyze collaboration between research institutes and startups in health informatics, digital labs, education platforms, etc.
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3️⃣ Who’s Being Reached & What Support Is Available
Target Stakeholders Support Type
NGOs & Public Health Organizations Grant-in-aid for AYUSH-led field interventions
Reputed Institutions (Govt/Private) CoE funding for infra, faculty, digital tools
Startups & Innovators Eligible for partnership-led pilots in PHI/CoE setups
Research/Education Platforms Curriculum development, digital knowledge systems, labs
Typical Support:
• PHI: ₹25–75 lakh per project (pilot + evaluation + scale-up path)
• CoE: ₹1–3 Cr for infra upgrade, digital lab setup, faculty dev., research tech
• 100% grant support for institutions with proven track record + field network
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4️⃣ Startup Leverage Opportunities
A. 🩺 Community Health Innovation
• Idea: "AyuMitras" – Train local youth/women as AYUSH Health Navigators for preventive check-ups, herbal nutrition guidance, Yoga-based NCD prevention
• Model: NGO + Startup collaboration → Apply under PHI component
B. 📊 Evidence Documentation & Analytics
• Idea: "AyuProof" – Real-world evidence dashboard for AYUSH interventions using mobile surveys, biometric logs, qualitative outcomes
• Revenue Model: Govt-funded M&E dashboards + CSR-backed trials
C. 🧪 AYUSH Diagnostic & Screening Tools
• Idea: "NadiX" – Non-invasive diagnostic tools (e.g., pulse reading + AI + questionnaire for Prakriti-based risk screening)
• Alignment: Demonstrates scalable screening under PHI focus areas
D. 🧑🏫 EdTech & Research CoE Partner
• Idea: "ShikshaAyur+" – LMS platform for AYUSH institutions with video classes, case banks, 3D models, quizzes
• Target Users: CoE grant recipients upgrading their tech stack
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5️⃣ FOMO Triggers: What Startups Miss if They Don’t Act
❌ Lost Entry into National Health Programs: Successful PHI pilots can scale into NHM, School Health Program, POSHAN, etc. Startups that contribute early get embedded.
❌ Missed Influence in AYUSH Curriculum & Research: EdTech and research startups could co-build future CoEs — those who don’t partner now will be seen as outsiders later.
❌ No Voice in AYUSH Validation Wave: Ayurswasthya promotes “proof, not just practice.” Startups that fail to help generate this evidence will be seen as soft players.
❌ Zero Access to SDG-Linked Health Grants: SDG-aligned interventions (anemia, mental health, etc.) are globally fundable — if you’re not tied in now, your eligibility later drops.
