President of India to inaugurate 'Saushrutam 2026' at AIIA, New Delhi on Sushruta Jayanti

1. At a Glance

• Saushrutam 2026 is a three-day international seminar (15–17 July 2026) hosted by the All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), New Delhi to mark Sushruta Jayanti (15 July), honouring Acharya Sushruta, the "Father of Surgery" [1].
• President Droupadi Murmu inaugurates the event — signals the Government's push to mainstream Ayurvedic surgery (Shalya Tantra) alongside modern surgical science [1][2].
• Relevant for Prelims (institution/scheme facts) and Mains GS-II (health policy, AYUSH mainstreaming) and GS-III (S&T, traditional knowledge integration).

2. Why in the News

• President of India to inaugurate Saushrutam 2026 at AIIA, New Delhi, on 15 July 2026 (Sushruta Jayanti), with a pre-conference workshop on 14 July [1].
• Release of an NCISM (National Commission for Indian System of Medicine) study — "Evaluation of Professional Career of Ayurveda Female Graduates" — and inauguration of an advanced 3 Tesla MRI facility (₹14.5 crore) at AIIA are scheduled during the event [1][2].
• International participation confirmed from Thailand, Israel, Austria, UK, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Nepal, Greece, and India [2].

3. Background & Evolution

• AIIA established in 2016 as an autonomous body under the Ministry of Ayush; positioned as a Centre of Excellence in Ayurvedic education, research and healthcare [3].
• Saushrutam is an annual seminar series run by AIIA's Department of Shalya Tantra on Sushruta Jayanti; Saushrutam 2024 was the "Second National Seminar," indicating the series began around 2023 [4].
• Saushrutam 2024 (13–15 July 2024) featured 25 live surgical demonstrations (fistula-in-ano, haemorrhoids, pilonidal sinus, gallstones, hernias) combining VAAFT, laparoscopy, laser techniques and classical Shalya methods, with 160+ participants [4].
• Saushrutam 2026 scales this up to an international seminar — evolution from national to global platform [1][2].

4. Core Static Facts

Item	Detail
Host institution	All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), New Delhi [1]
Parent ministry	Ministry of Ayush [3]
Event dates	Pre-conference workshop: 14 July 2026; Seminar: 15–17 July 2026 [1]
Occasion	Sushruta Jayanti, observed annually on 15 July [1]
Chief Guest	President Droupadi Murmu (inaugural ceremony) [1]
Guests of Honour	Shri Prataprao Jadhav (MoS, Ayush, Independent Charge), LG Taranjit Singh Sandhu, MP Ramveer Singh Bidhuri, Secretary (Ayush) Rajesh Kotecha [2]
AIIA Director	Prof. P. K. Prajapati [2]
Organising Chairman / Secretary	Prof. Yogesh Badwe / Dr. Vyasadeva Mahanta [2]
Study released	NCISM study: "Evaluation of Professional Career of Ayurveda Female Graduates" [1]
New facility	Advanced 3 Tesla MRI, ~₹14.5 crore investment [2]
Themes	Proctology, reconstructive surgery, integrative oncology, medico-legal issues, IPR in surgery, Agnikarma, Kshara Sutra [2]
Countries participating	Thailand, Israel, Austria, UK, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Nepal, Greece, India [2]
AIIA founding year	2016 [3]
AIIA track record	30+ lakh patients treated via 44 specialty clinics; 7 Health & Wellness Centres; 73 MoUs (national/international) [3]

5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis

Social

• NCISM study on female Ayurveda graduates' careers signals focus on gender equity in traditional medicine workforce [1].
• Public health outreach — AIIA's growing patient base (30+ lakh) reflects rising trust in integrative care [3].

Scientific / Technological

• Integration of classical Shalya Tantra techniques (Agnikarma, Kshara Sutra) with modern surgical tech (laparoscopy, laser, VAAFT) exemplifies India's "integrative medicine" model [2][4].
• 3 Tesla MRI addition upgrades AIIA's diagnostic capacity, aiding evidence-based Ayurvedic surgical practice [2].

Administrative / Governance

• Event institutionalised under Ministry of Ayush via AIIA and NCISM (statutory regulator for Indian Systems of Medicine), showing coordinated central AYUSH ecosystem [1][3].

Geopolitical / Strategic (Soft Power)

• Participation of experts from 8+ countries positions India's traditional medicine diplomacy — reinforcing Ayurveda as a soft-power/health-diplomacy tool [2].

Historical

• Continues a lineage from Saushrutam 2024 (national) to 2026 (international), tracing the institutional growth of AIIA since 2016 [3][4].

6. Recent Developments (last 12–18 months)

• AIIA celebrated its 9th Foundation Day around October 2025, reporting 30+ lakh patients and 73 MoUs [3].
• AIIA observed World Cancer Day 2026 with awareness/academic activities (per PIB records), reflecting expanding public-health calendar engagement [search result, PIB PRID 2223472].
• Saushrutam 2024 (13–15 July 2024) held as the national precursor with live surgical demonstrations [4].
• Saushrutam 2026 announced for 15–17 July 2026 with Presidential inauguration [1].

7. Prelims Hooks

• Sushruta Jayanti is observed annually on 15 July [1].
• Sushruta is regarded as the "Father of Surgery" [1].
• AIIA (All India Institute of Ayurveda), New Delhi, is an autonomous body under the Ministry of Ayush [3].
• AIIA was established in 2016 [3].
• Saushrutam 2026 is being organised by AIIA's Department of Shalya Tantra [4].
• Saushrutam 2026 is a three-day international seminar (15–17 July 2026), preceded by a workshop on 14 July [1].
• President Droupadi Murmu inaugurates Saushrutam 2026 [1].
• NCISM = National Commission for Indian System of Medicine — releases the study on female Ayurveda graduates' careers at this event [1].
• A 3 Tesla MRI facility (₹14.5 crore) is being inaugurated at AIIA during Saushrutam 2026 [2].
• Classical Ayurvedic surgical techniques featured include Agnikarma and Kshara Sutra [2].
• Saushrutam 2024 was the Second National Seminar in the series, held 13–15 July 2024 [4].
• Countries participating in Saushrutam 2026 include Thailand, Israel, Austria, UK, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Nepal, Greece [2].
• AIIA has signed 73 MoUs and runs 44 specialty clinics [3].
• Union Minister overseeing Ayush: Shri Prataprao Jadhav (MoS, Independent Charge) [2].

8. Mains Relevance

• GS-I: Indian heritage — contributions of ancient scholars (Sushruta, Sushruta Samhita) to science.
• GS-II: Government policies for health sector; issues in mainstreaming AYUSH/Ayurveda; women in professional/traditional-medicine workforce.
• GS-III: Science & Technology — indigenization of technology; integrating traditional knowledge systems with modern medical technology.
• Possible question stems: 1. "Discuss the significance of integrating classical Ayurvedic surgical techniques with modern surgical science for India's healthcare system." (GS-III) 2. "Examine the role of institutions like AIIA in mainstreaming AYUSH systems and promoting India's traditional-medicine soft power abroad." (GS-II) 3. "Sushruta's contributions to surgical science remain relevant even today — Discuss." (GS-I)

9. Related Topics to Study Next

• Ministry of Ayush — structure, schemes (National AYUSH Mission), autonomous bodies.
• National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) Act, 2020 — regulatory framework for Ayurveda education.
• AIIMS vs AIIA — distinguishing modern-medicine flagship institutes from Ayurveda counterparts.
• Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL) — IPR protection of Ayurvedic knowledge, linked to the seminar's "IPR in surgery" theme.
• WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine (Jamnagar) — global institutional recognition of traditional medicine.
• Ayushman Bharat / integrative medicine policy — mainstreaming of AYUSH with allopathy.
• Women in STEM/medicine in India — linked to the NCISM female-graduates study.

10. Common Errors / Trap Areas

• Do not confuse AIIA (Ayurveda) with AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Sciences) — different institutions, different mandates.
• Sushruta Jayanti date (15 July) is often confused with Ayurveda Day (Dhanteras-based, variable date) — they are distinct observances.
• NCISM (statutory regulator under NCISM Act, 2020) should not be confused with CCIM (Central Council of Indian Medicine), which NCISM replaced.
• AIIA is an autonomous body, not a directly-run government department, under Ministry of Ayush — relevant for "administrative status" MCQs.
• Saushrutam is a recurring annual seminar (2024 national → 2026 international) — avoid assuming it's a one-off event.