PIL Filed In Supreme Court To Include Ayurveda, Yoga, And Naturopathy In Ayushman Bharat Healthcare Scheme

A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed under Article 32 in the Supreme Court seeking the inclusion of traditional Indian healthcare systems—Ayurveda, Yoga, and Naturopathy—in the National Health Protection Mission, Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY), also known as Ayushman Bharat.

The petitioner argues that despite the Centre's assurance and the Delhi High Court’s directions to expedite the inclusion, these traditional systems have yet to be integrated into PM-JAY.

The petition filed by Advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhya highlighted that while PM-JAY primarily covers allopathic treatments for economically weaker sections and those below the poverty line, it excludes key traditional systems such as Ayurveda, Yoga, and Naturopathy, despite the recommendations in the National Health Policy of 2017. According to the petition, these indigenous medical systems, deeply rooted in Indian heritage, have proven effective in addressing healthcare needs and merit inclusion in the national scheme.

The PIL underscores that India's rich healthcare legacy—documented in ancient scriptures, Vedas, and Upanishads—has faced erosion due to colonial-era policies that marginalized indigenous practices. The PIL also references a prior assurance by the Centre on March 1, 2024, promising the inclusion of traditional healthcare systems in PM-JAY, which, however, has not been fulfilled.

"India is a country rich in various great traditions of sages and has clear evidence of this in various available scriptures, Vedas, Puranas, Upanishads, etc. Unfortunately, due to various policies created by foreign rulers and individuals with a colonial mindset, our cultural, intellectual knowledge, and scientific heritage have been systematically eroded. The foreigners, motivated by a profit-oriented approach, have thoughtfully implemented many laws and schemes during the time of our country's independence that have slowly undermined our rich heritage and history," the PIL reads.

After an initial writ petition filed in Delhi High Court in 2023, the High Court directed the Centre to treat the PIL as a representation and act on it swiftly. Despite this direction, the petitioner asserts that Ayurveda, Yoga, and Naturopathy remain excluded from Ayushman Bharat, prompting the current PIL in the Supreme Court, filed on November 4, 2024, for final redress.

Cause Title: Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay v. Union of India and Ors. [Diary No. 50851-202]