§1How big it is
Ayush market grew from USD 2.85 billion in 2014 to USD 43.4 billion in 2023; Ayush exports doubled from USD 1.09 billion to USD 2.16 billion
PIB: Decadal achievements of the Ministry of Ayush (Dec 2024)
§2Ways to get started
- Classical Ayurveda medicine or herbal product manufacturing (contract or own brand)
- Panchakarma / wellness centre
- Yoga studio or online yoga classes
- Herbal raw material cultivation and supply
§3Hubs and clusters
- Kerala (Ayurveda wellness), Jamnagar (WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine), Rishikesh (yoga), Haridwar (Ayurveda manufacturing) - well-known
§4Licences and registration
- Ayush drug manufacturing licence from the State Licensing Authority (Rule 153/154, GMP Schedule T)
- FSSAI licence for nutraceuticals and Ayurveda Aahara products
- Clinical establishment registration for Ayush clinics/wellness centres
- Practitioner registration with state board (NCISM/NCH)
- Ayush Mark / premium mark certification (optional, QCI)
- Udyam Registration (MSME) - free, online, PAN + Aadhaar based
- GST registration (mandatory above turnover threshold or for inter-state supply / e-commerce sale)
- Shops & Establishment registration or Factory Licence (Factories Act / state rules) depending on size and power use
- Consent to Establish and Consent to Operate from the State Pollution Control Board - category (Red/Orange/Green/White) as per CPCB 2025 harmonised list; White category is exempt from consent
- IEC (Importer Exporter Code) from DGFT if you import or export
§5Regulators
- Ministry of Ayush
- State Ayush Licensing Authority (Drugs and Cosmetics Act - Ayush drugs)
- PCIM&H (pharmacopoeia standards)
- FSSAI (Ayurveda Aahara, nutraceuticals)
- NCISM / NCH (practitioners)
§6Government help
- National Ayush Mission (state-level Ayush services and infrastructure) [Ministry of Ayush]
- Ayush Visa for medical value travel - status not checked in this pass
- Cross-sector schemes that also apply (detailed in the programmes file): Udyam benefits, PMEGP, PM Mudra Yojana, CGTMSE credit guarantee, Stand-Up India, MSE-CDP (cluster development), RAMP, MSME ZED and Lean certification, MSME Champions, TReDS, Startup India (SISFS seed fund, Fund of Funds, CGSS), RoDTEP, EPCG, Advance Authorisation, Districts as Export Hubs, ODOP (One District One Product)
§7For exports
- Pharmexcil (Ayush and herbal products); AEPC (Ayush Export Promotion Council) - not checked
§8Pros and cons
Merits
- Market grew many times in a decade [PIB Dec 2024]
- Government promotion at home and abroad
Demerits
- GMP and quality testing compliance; product claims are tightly regulated
- Consumer trust and adulteration issues