What happened: Parliamentary focus on Yoga and Naturopathy for preventive care

Union Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of AYUSH, Prataprao Jadhav chaired the Fifth Meeting of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee of the Ministry of AYUSH in New Delhi on 11 August 2026. The meeting’s theme was “Yoga and Naturopathy” and its growing relevance in preventive healthcare, healthy lifestyles, rehabilitation, and holistic well-being.

Prataprao Jadhav said Yoga and Naturopathy hold a distinct place in India’s knowledge tradition and that both systems offer “drug-free” approaches aimed at health promotion and overall well-being. He described Yoga as supporting physical, mental, and emotional well-being, and Naturopathy as emphasizing nutrition, lifestyle modification, natural therapies, and the body’s inherent healing capacity.

The Minister linked the theme to public health needs arising from the growing burden of non-communicable diseases, stress, and mental health challenges in modern lifestyles. He emphasized that prevention and healthy lifestyles should be strengthened alongside treatment of diseases.

Prataprao Jadhav also highlighted multiple application areas where Yoga and Naturopathy can support well-being: healthy ageing, rehabilitation, mental health, stress and pain management, maternal and child health, and wellness. On healthy ageing, he stressed maintaining physical activity, mental health, mobility, independence, and quality of life as India’s elderly population grows.

The meeting included a presentation by Ms. Alarmelmangai D., Joint Secretary, Ministry of AYUSH, on the institutional, educational, research, and outreach ecosystem of Yoga and Naturopathy. The Ministry outlined seven priority areas for strengthening Yoga and Naturopathy in the coming years.

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