MAINS Current Affairs includes The AYUSH Sector in India & India–Canada Security Cooperation

Governance

1. The AYUSH Sector in India

Context: In the Union Budget 2026–27, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced enhanced financial support for the AYUSH sector. Additionally, India’s Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the European Union is expected to facilitate smoother entry of Indian medical professionals and AYUSH products into European markets.

AYUSH Sector in India

AYUSH refers to India’s traditional medical systems—Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy. The sector spans hospitals, wellness centres, academic institutions, research bodies, herbal industries, and integrative health services. Rising public preference for natural remedies, along with sustained policy backing, has accelerated its growth. In recent years, AYUSH has evolved into a significant contributor to revenue generation and employment.

Institutional Framework & Major Initiatives

National AYUSH Mission (NAM):

The principal programme for integrating AYUSH into mainstream healthcare through:

• Co-location of AYUSH units in PHCs, CHCs, and district hospitals
• Infrastructure development and workforce expansion

Institutes of National Importance:

• All India Institute of Ayurveda (New Delhi)
• National Institute of Homoeopathy (Kolkata)
• Dedicated national institutes for Siddha, Unani, Yoga, and Naturopathy

Regulatory & Research Bodies:

• Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS)
• National Commission for Indian System of Medicine
• National Commission for Homoeopathy

Medicinal Plant Development:

The National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB), along with 32 State Boards, promotes scientific cultivation, supply chains, and exports.

Flagship Schemes:

• AYURGYAN – Education and skill enhancement
• Ayurswasthya Yojana – Preventive and community health services

Budgetary Support

Total allocation for 2026–27 stands at ₹4,408 crore, up from ₹3,992 crore (2025–26) and ₹2,122 crore (2020–21).

• NAM allocation increased by 66% to ₹1,300 crore to modernise facilities and promote preventive care.
• Three new All India Institutes of Ayurveda will be established as premier centres akin to AIIMS.
• Funding proposed for upgrading the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre in Jamnagar.
• Investment to strengthen AYUSH pharmacies and drug-testing laboratories.

The government will also launch Bharat-VISTAAR, a multilingual AI assistant to support medicinal plant farmers with guidance on cultivation, pricing, and export certification.

India–EU FTA and AYUSH

The India–EU FTA provides multiple advantages:

• Improved mobility for AYUSH professionals
• Regulatory clarity for Indian wellness enterprises in EU countries
• Mutual recognition of testing and safety standards
• Safeguarding the Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL) from biopiracy

Significance of AYUSH

• Encourages preventive and holistic healthcare
• Strengthens India’s cultural diplomacy and soft power
• Promotes wellness tourism and herbal exports
• Supports rural livelihoods through medicinal plant farming
• Enhances India’s role in global health discussions

Key Challenges

• Gaps in infrastructure and trained personnel
• Inconsistent protocols and standardisation issues
• Concerns over quality and safety of herbal products
• Debate surrounding unverified practices and mixopathy
• Need for rigorous clinical validation to build international credibility

Conclusion & Way Forward

AYUSH remains central to India’s healthcare landscape and heritage, offering cost-effective and preventive care solutions. With growing global interest, it holds potential as both a public health model and economic engine. However, sustained policy focus, scientific research, quality regulation, and innovation are essential to harmonise traditional knowledge with modern medical standards.

International Relations

2. India–Canada Security Cooperation

Context: India’s National Security Adviser Ajit Doval visited Ottawa for high-level discussions with Canadian authorities to revive security collaboration, improve intelligence exchange, and re-establish institutional engagement after nearly two years of diplomatic tensions.

Background

• In 2023, Canada accused Indian officials of involvement in the killing of a Canadian national allegedly associated with Khalistan extremism. India firmly denied the charges, terming them baseless and politically driven. The episode led to diplomatic expulsions, suspension of trade talks, and a sharp decline in bilateral engagement.
• The recent interaction reflects a cautious attempt to restore working-level cooperation, particularly in security and law-enforcement areas.

Major Outcomes of the Talks

Structured National Security Framework

• Both sides agreed to develop a formal work plan to strengthen collaboration in national security and policing.

Deployment of Liaison Officers

Each country will station security and law-enforcement liaison officers in the other’s territory to enable faster communication and real-time intelligence sharing. Priority areas include:

• Trafficking of narcotics, especially fentanyl precursors
• Transnational organised crime
• Financing of extremist activities and document fraud

Extremism & Diaspora Concerns

• Discussions addressed issues of extremist propaganda, intimidation, and financial networks linked to criminal groups.

Cybersecurity Collaboration

• The two countries decided to institutionalise cooperation on cyber policy and establish structured mechanisms for sharing cyber-threat intelligence.

Overview of India–Canada Relations

Historical Ties

• Diplomatic relations established in 1947.
• Shared democratic traditions and Commonwealth membership form the foundation.
• Relations were strained after India’s nuclear tests in 1974 and 1998 due to Canada’s non-proliferation concerns.

Economic Engagement

• Jan–Aug 2024 bilateral trade: USD 8.55 billion
  • India’s exports: USD 5.22 billion
  • Imports: USD 3.33 billion
• Ongoing negotiations on CEPA and FIPA agreements.

Civil Nuclear Cooperation

• Nuclear Cooperation Agreement signed in 2010 (operational since 2013).
• A Joint Committee supervises implementation of peaceful nuclear cooperation.

Space Cooperation

• MoUs signed between Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA).
• Collaboration includes satellite tracking, astronomy research, and commercial launches.
• ISRO’s commercial arm ANTRIX has launched several Canadian nanosatellites.

Science & Polar Research

• Cooperation in Arctic and cold-climate studies.
• MoU signed in 2020 between India’s National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research and POLAR Canada.

People-to-People Connections

• Around 8 million Indo-Canadians and nearly 1 million NRIs reside in Canada.
• Indians constitute about 40% of international students in Canada.
• Strong diaspora presence shapes public and political narratives.

Multilateral Cooperation

Both countries engage in platforms such as:

• G20
• Commonwealth of Nations
• United Nations
• International Solar Alliance

Way Forward

India–Canada relations possess strong structural foundations and considerable scope in trade, education, clean energy, and technology. However, political sensitivities and security-related concerns continue to pose challenges. The trajectory of ties will depend on how effectively both nations address differences while advancing shared strategic and economic interests.

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