Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday hailed the growing prominence of Ayurveda and Unani medicine under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while addressing the inauguration ceremony of Mahayogi Guru Gorakhnath AYUSH University in Gorakhpur.
Calling the day “historic,” CM Yogi said the event marks a new chapter in the advancement of traditional Indian healthcare systems.
“Before 2014, India’s healthcare services, especially traditional systems, lacked global recognition. Thanks to PM Modi, the creation of the AYUSH Ministry has elevated Ayurveda, Homoeopathy, Yoga, and Naturopathy. Ayurveda and Unani, which were once lagging behind, are progressing today, and the state government will continue to strengthen them,” he said.
Highlighting the state’s vision, the Chief Minister announced plans to establish AYUSH universities in six additional Commissionerates where such infrastructure currently does not exist.
“Our objective is to build an AYUSH system capable of saving lives and improving healthcare accessibility,” he added.
President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the university during her visit to Gorakhpur. The institution, whose foundation was laid by former President Ram Nath Kovind in August 2021, spans 52 acres in Pipri, Bhathat, about 25 km from Gorakhpur city.
Currently, Mahayogi Guru Gorakhnath AYUSH University is affiliated with 98 AYUSH colleges across Uttar Pradesh, including 76 Ayurveda, 10 Unani, and 12 Homoeopathy institutions. It has streamlined academic regulation by bringing them under a single administrative umbrella.
Operating since the 2021–22 academic session, the university offers degree and postgraduate programs such as BAMS, BUMS, BHMS, and related MD/MS courses. Plans are underway to include Siddha, Sowa-Rigpa, Yoga, and Naturopathy disciplines in both academic and clinical capacities.
The university, envisioned by CM Yogi, aligns with the central government’s initiative to bring together India’s diverse traditional medicine systems under the AYUSH framework.