·PIB

Ayush Export Promotion Council observes 4th Establishment Anniversary in New Delhi

In this note
  1. At a Glance
  2. Why in the News
  3. Background & Evolution
  4. Core Static Facts
  5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis
  6. Recent Developments (last 12-18 months)
  7. Prelims Hooks
  8. Mains Relevance
  9. Related Topics to Study Next
  10. Common Errors / Trap Areas

1. At a Glance

  • AYUSHEXCIL is India's dedicated Export Promotion Council (EPC) for the AYUSH sector (Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa-Rigpa, Homoeopathy), jointly stewarded by the Ministry of Commerce & Industry and the Ministry of Ayush [1][2].
  • Marked its 4th Establishment Anniversary on 4 January 2026 in New Delhi; AYUSH & herbal exports grew 6.11% YoY to USD 688.89 million in 2024–25 [1].
  • UPSC relevance: intersects GS-II (health, governance), GS-III (economy, exports, FTAs) and current affairs on traditional medicine diplomacy.

2. Why in the News

  • AYUSHEXCIL observed its 4th Establishment Day on 04 January 2026 in New Delhi, releasing FY 2024-25 export performance data [1].
  • Inclusion of traditional medicine annexes in recent bilateral trade pacts — India–Oman CEPA and India–New Zealand FTA — flagged as export catalysts [1][3].

3. Background & Evolution

  • 2020 (Dec): Joint review by Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and Ayush Minister Shripad Naik decides to create a dedicated EPC for AYUSH [2].
  • 04 January 2022: AYUSHEXCIL registered as a Section 8 (non-profit) company with RoC, New Delhi [2].
  • 20 April 2022: Formally launched by PM Narendra Modi at the Global AYUSH Investment & Innovation Summit, Gandhinagar (Gujarat) [2].
  • 31 July 2023: Notified by DGFT (Directorate General of Foreign Trade) as the nodal EPC for the AYUSH sector [2].

4. Core Static Facts

  • Type: Section 8 company; Export Promotion Council under Department of Commerce, MoC&I [2].
  • Sectors covered: Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa-Rigpa, Homoeopathy + herbal/wellness products [2].
  • Nodal recognition: DGFT notification, 31 July 2023 [2].
  • Export value FY 2024-25: USD 688.89 million (up from USD 649.2 million in 2023-24, growth 6.11%) [1].
  • Parent ministries: Ministry of Commerce & Industry (administrative — EPC framework); Ministry of Ayush (sectoral) [2].
  • AYUSH industry size (2020-21): USD 18.1 billion [4].

5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis

Economic

  • AYUSH exports cross USD 688.89 mn in 2024-25; modest absolute scale but high value-addition and SME-driven [1].
  • Council's tools: B2B meets, international exhibitions, capacity building, regulatory facilitation [1].

Geopolitical / Strategic (Soft Power)

  • Traditional medicine embedded in India–Oman CEPA and India–New Zealand FTA annexes — first-of-kind treaty recognition of Ayurveda/Yoga services [1][3].
  • Aligns with India's hosting of the WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine at Jamnagar.

Administrative / Governance

  • Dual-ministry model (MoC&I + Ayush) — EPC structure mirrors other commodity councils (e.g., APEDA, Pharmexcil) [2].
  • Recent industry MoUs (e.g., AYUSHEXCIL–Zepto for digital access & quality assurance) signal D2C/quick-commerce push [5].

Scientific / Regulatory

  • Quality compliance and harmonisation with importing-country pharmacopoeial standards remain the binding constraint on exports.

6. Recent Developments (last 12-18 months)

  • 04 Jan 2026: 4th Establishment Anniversary; FY25 export data released [1].
  • FY 2024-25: AYUSH & herbal exports = USD 688.89 mn (+6.11%) [1].
  • 2025: AYUSHEXCIL–Zepto MoU on digital access & quality assurance of Ayush products [5].
  • India–New Zealand FTA and India–Oman CEPA: dedicated traditional-medicine annexes [1][3].

7. Prelims Hooks

  • AYUSHEXCIL incorporated as a Section 8 company on 4 January 2022 [2].
  • Launched by PM Modi at the Global AYUSH Investment & Innovation Summit, Gandhinagar, 20 April 2022 [2].
  • Notified as nodal EPC for AYUSH by DGFT on 31 July 2023 [2].
  • Functions under Ministry of Commerce & Industry in consultation with Ministry of Ayush [2].
  • AYUSH exports 2024-25: USD 688.89 million, growth 6.11% [1].
  • AYUSH exports 2023-24: USD 649.2 million [1].
  • AYUSH industry size (2020-21): USD 18.1 billion [4].
  • Bilateral pacts with AYUSH/traditional medicine annexes: India–Oman CEPA, India–New Zealand FTA [1][3].
  • AYUSH covers six systems: Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa-Rigpa, Homoeopathy [2].
  • 2025 MoU partner for digital/quality-assurance push: Zepto [5].

8. Mains Relevance

  • GS-II: Health governance, role of statutory/regulatory bodies; bilateral health diplomacy.
  • GS-III: Indian economy — exports, FTAs/CEPAs, MSME promotion; science & tech (traditional knowledge).
  • Possible stems: 1. "Discuss the role of dedicated Export Promotion Councils in mainstreaming niche sectors like AYUSH into India's external trade architecture." 2. "Traditional medicine has emerged as an instrument of India's soft-power diplomacy. Examine in light of recent FTAs." 3. "Evaluate the regulatory and quality-assurance challenges constraining AYUSH exports."

9. Related Topics to Study Next

  • WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine, Jamnagar — multilateral anchor for AYUSH.
  • India–Oman CEPA & India–New Zealand FTA — treaty recognition of AYUSH services.
  • Pharmexcil & APEDA — comparator EPCs (pharma, agri).
  • Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana — overlapping health-economy theme.
  • Scheme for Promotion of International Cooperation (IC), Ministry of Ayush [6].
  • Foreign Trade Policy 2023 — EPC framework and export incentives.
  • National Ayush Mission (NAM) — domestic supply-side base.
  • Geographical Indications & traditional knowledge (TKDL).

10. Common Errors / Trap Areas

  • Confusing AYUSHEXCIL (export promotion, MoC&I) with National Ayush Mission (Ministry of Ayush, domestic delivery).
  • Wrong year — incorporation 2022, not 2021; DGFT nodal notification 2023.
  • AYUSHEXCIL is Section 8 company, not a statutory body or registered society.
  • AYUSH = six recognised systems (Sowa-Rigpa often missed; Homoeopathy is included despite being European-origin).
  • Export figure is in USD millions, not billions — don't confuse with the USD 18.1 bn industry size.

Sources

  1. 1Ayush Export Promotion Council observes 4th Establishment Anniversary in New Delhipib.gov.in · tier 1
  2. 2Ministry of Commerce and Industry and Ministry of AYUSH decides to set up an AYUSH Export Promotion Council / Ayush Export Promotion Councilpib.gov.in · tier 1
  3. 3India – New Zealand Free Trade Agreementpib.gov.in · tier 1
  4. 4Government supporting the growth of the Ayurveda products market: Ayush industry reaches $18.1 billion (2020-21)pib.gov.in · tier 1
  5. 5AYUSHEXCIL and Zepto Sign MoUpib.gov.in · tier 1
  6. 6Scheme for Promotion of International Cooperation for Ayushpib.gov.in · tier 1

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