The President of India Smt Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the National Arogya Fair 2026 in Shegaon, Buldhana, Maharashtra today (February 25, 2026). She also felicitated six senior Vaidya who have made important contribution in the field of AYUSH healthcare.
Speaking on the occasion, the President said that in our tradition, overall health is considered the greatest happiness. Healthy citizens play an important role in strengthening the country. Ayush systems of medicine have made an invaluable contribution to citizens health.
Systems like Yoga, Ayurveda, and Siddha have been serving people since the dawn of modern medicine. The President said that our farms, kitchens and forests contain a valuable treasure trove of medicinal plants and health-protecting herbs.
Conserving and enhancing this valuable wealth is crucial for providing raw materials for medicines and maintaining environmental balance. Cultivating medicinal plants not only improves economic conditions of farmers but also contributes to soil health and conservation.
Therefore, promoting AYUSH systems not only improves people's physical and economic health but also supports environmental conservation. The President said that Ayurveda, yoga and other AYUSH systems offer guidance on leading a healthy and balanced life.
Today, the world is recognizing the importance of integrative medicine in disease prevention. People worldwide are adopting yoga for a stress-free and healthy lifestyle and benefiting from Ayurvedic treatments and medicines. The President said that steps such as evidence-based research, standardization of medicines, and quality control will further enhance the recognition and acceptance of AYUSH systems.
She was happy to note that the Ministry of AYUSH is continuously striving in this direction. General guidelines for research and drug development have been established in accordance with international standards. Numerous scientific efforts are underway to establish Ayurveda, Yoga, and other AYUSH systems as reliable, scientific solutions to modern health challenges.
She expressed confidence that by making traditional systems of medicine more accessible and popular through modern scientific interventions, innovations and global collaboration, we will be successful in making them an integral part of the holistic healthcare system.