India has taken its Ayush diplomacy to the Arctic, marking a new chapter in global health and sustainability engagement. At the Arctic Circle Assembly 2025, held in Reykjavik, Iceland, India showcased how its traditional medicine systems, Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy, can contribute to global health resilience, especially in harsh ecological settings such as the Arctic region.
The delegation from the Ministry of Ayush, led by Prof. (Dr) Rabinarayan Acharya, Director General of the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), and Dr Srinivas Rao Chinta, Joint Advisor (Homoeopathy), highlighted India’s commitment to integrating wellness traditions with global scientific research and sustainability frameworks.
Ayush in the Arctic dialogue
India’s participation was part of a plenary session titled “The Role and Importance of the Global South in the Arctic,” organised by the Government of India. The session featured several distinguished speakers, including T. V. N. Prasanna, Polar Coordinator, Government of India; Dr Manish Tiwari, Scientist-F, National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR); and Wassim Said, Steering Committee Member of the Emirates Polar Program (UAE).
In his keynote address, Prof. Acharya highlighted India’s proactive engagement in Arctic affairs under its comprehensive Arctic Policy, emphasising how traditional knowledge systems, especially Ayurveda and Homoeopathy, can support human adaptation and wellness in extreme cold climates.
“Traditional Indian systems of medicine have long promoted balance, resilience, and preventive health. These principles can offer valuable insights into coping with the physiological and psychological stresses associated with extreme environments like the Arctic,” Prof. Acharya said.
A vision for integrative research and collaboration
Expanding on India’s scientific outlook, Prof. Acharya presented a forward-looking roadmap for collaborative research between Ayush institutions and Arctic studies organisations. His proposals included:
1. Launching transdisciplinary clinical trials to assess the effectiveness of Ayurvedic and Homoeopathic interventions in Arctic-like environments.
2. Establishing a joint research consortium under India’s Arctic Policy framework to integrate traditional wellness models with modern environmental sciences.
3. Developing culturally adapted Ayush delivery systems suited for populations in polar regions, ensuring safety and efficacy monitoring through standardised scientific evaluation.
He further emphasised the need to generate and publish robust scientific evidence to bridge the gap between traditional medicine and modern biomedicine, reinforcing the credibility and global acceptance of Ayush systems.
“Integrating ancient wellness wisdom with modern research will not only expand the scope of Arctic studies but also strengthen India’s contribution to global sustainable health,” he added.
Health, wellness, and sustainability
India’s presentation at the Reykjavík Assembly also underscored the role of the Global South in shaping the future of Arctic cooperation. Prof. Acharya highlighted that countries from the Global South bring holistic and community-based knowledge systems that can complement scientific exploration in addressing environmental and health challenges.
Dr Srinivas Rao Chinta, representing Homoeopathy, spoke about the potential of integrative medicine in promoting resilience and immunity among researchers, explorers, and local communities living in the Arctic. He pointed out that Ayush interventions, rooted in preventive care, can play a crucial role in maintaining overall wellness amid climatic extremes and isolation.
“The Arctic region can benefit from India’s centuries-old traditions that prioritise equilibrium, immunity, and adaptation, all of which are vital for survival in extreme environments,” Dr Chinta noted.
Positioning integrative health in Arctic diplomacy
Prof. Acharya also proposed that Ayush awareness should be embedded in India’s Arctic outreach diplomacy, making integrative health a key component of sustainable international partnerships.
He noted that by bringing traditional medicine into Arctic dialogues, India is broadening the definition of health diplomacy, from curative models to preventive, holistic, and ecologically aligned approaches.
This aligns with India’s broader diplomatic approach under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of “One Earth, One Health,” which promotes collaborative, cross-border health solutions based on traditional wisdom and scientific innovation.
India’s expanding global footprint in health diplomacy
The Ministry of Ayush’s participation in the Arctic Circle Assembly reflects India’s growing role as a responsible global stakeholder in health, sustainability, and people-to-people cooperation.
Through its Ayush outreach, India continues to strengthen ties with international institutions and governments, advancing a shared vision of holistic health and environmental harmony.
The Reykjavík event also complements India’s series of diplomatic engagements promoting traditional medicine, including its leadership at the World Health Organisation’s Global Centre for Traditional Medicine in Jamnagar, Gujarat.
“India’s message to the world is clear, that health must be viewed not only through the lens of disease treatment but also through prevention, wellness, and harmony with nature,” said a Ministry of Ayush representative.
Ayush diplomacy: A pillar of India’s global engagement
The Arctic engagement demonstrates how India’s Ayush diplomacy is evolving from regional outreach to global scientific collaboration. By showcasing the relevance of Ayurveda and Homoeopathy in extreme climate research, India has opened a new frontier in integrative health science and environmental diplomacy.
This initiative aligns with India’s Arctic Policy goals, which emphasise science and technology cooperation, environmental protection, and sustainable development.
As the global community confronts challenges like climate change, food insecurity, and mental health crises, India’s traditional knowledge systems offer a complementary framework for global well-being rooted in sustainability and inclusivity.
India’s participation at the Arctic Circle Assembly 2025 marks a defining moment in its journey to globalise traditional medicine through Ayush diplomacy. By integrating Ayurveda, Homoeopathy, and wellness principles into Arctic discussions, India has reaffirmed its commitment to combining ancient wisdom with modern science.
Through initiatives that merge health, climate, and sustainability, India is positioning itself as a thought leader in holistic global governance, bridging the Arctic and the Global South through the shared pursuit of well-being, balance, and environmental stewardship.
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