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

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 [S1][S2].
• 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 [S1].
• 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 [S1].
• Inclusion of traditional medicine annexes in recent bilateral trade pacts — India–Oman CEPA and India–New Zealand FTA — flagged as export catalysts [S1][S3].

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 [S2].
• 04 January 2022: AYUSHEXCIL registered as a Section 8 (non-profit) company with RoC, New Delhi [S2].
• 20 April 2022: Formally launched by PM Narendra Modi at the Global AYUSH Investment & Innovation Summit, Gandhinagar (Gujarat) [S2].
• 31 July 2023: Notified by DGFT (Directorate General of Foreign Trade) as the nodal EPC for the AYUSH sector [S2].

4. Core Static Facts

• Type: Section 8 company; Export Promotion Council under Department of Commerce, MoC&I [S2].
• Sectors covered: Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa-Rigpa, Homoeopathy + herbal/wellness products [S2].
• Nodal recognition: DGFT notification, 31 July 2023 [S2].
• Export value FY 2024-25: USD 688.89 million (up from USD 649.2 million in 2023-24, growth 6.11%) [S1].
• Parent ministries: Ministry of Commerce & Industry (administrative — EPC framework); Ministry of Ayush (sectoral) [S2].
• AYUSH industry size (2020-21): USD 18.1 billion [S4].

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 [S1]. - Council's tools: B2B meets, international exhibitions, capacity building, regulatory facilitation [S1].

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 [S1][S3]. - 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) [S2]. - Recent industry MoUs (e.g., AYUSHEXCIL–Zepto for digital access & quality assurance) signal D2C/quick-commerce push [S5].

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 [S1].
• FY 2024-25: AYUSH & herbal exports = USD 688.89 mn (+6.11%) [S1].
• 2025: AYUSHEXCIL–Zepto MoU on digital access & quality assurance of Ayush products [S5].
• India–New Zealand FTA and India–Oman CEPA: dedicated traditional-medicine annexes [S1][S3].

7. Prelims Hooks

• AYUSHEXCIL incorporated as a Section 8 company on 4 January 2022 [S2].
• Launched by PM Modi at the Global AYUSH Investment & Innovation Summit, Gandhinagar, 20 April 2022 [S2].
• Notified as nodal EPC for AYUSH by DGFT on 31 July 2023 [S2].
• Functions under Ministry of Commerce & Industry in consultation with Ministry of Ayush [S2].
• AYUSH exports 2024-25: USD 688.89 million, growth 6.11% [S1].
• AYUSH exports 2023-24: USD 649.2 million [S1].
• AYUSH industry size (2020-21): USD 18.1 billion [S4].
• Bilateral pacts with AYUSH/traditional medicine annexes: India–Oman CEPA, India–New Zealand FTA [S1][S3].
• AYUSH covers six systems: Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa-Rigpa, Homoeopathy [S2].
• 2025 MoU partner for digital/quality-assurance push: Zepto [S5].

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 [S6].
• 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.

11. Sources

• [S1] Ayush Export Promotion Council observes 4th Establishment Anniversary in New Delhi — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2211272 — (tier 1)
• [S2] Ministry of Commerce and Industry and Ministry of AYUSH decides to set up an AYUSH Export Promotion Council / Ayush Export Promotion Council — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=1678702 ; https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1704849 — (tier 1)
• [S3] India – New Zealand Free Trade Agreement — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2207652 — (tier 1)
• [S4] Government supporting the growth of the Ayurveda products market: Ayush industry reaches $18.1 billion (2020-21) — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=2085331 — (tier 1)
• [S5] AYUSHEXCIL and Zepto Sign MoU — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2219739 — (tier 1)
• [S6] Scheme for Promotion of International Cooperation for Ayush — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=2085328 — (tier 1)