The Vice-President of India, Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan, today inaugurated KAUMARACON-2026 at the All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), New Delhi, an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Ayush. The event is the third international conference on Kaumarabhritya (Ayurvedic paediatrics). It is being held from 15 to 17 October 2026 under the theme “Shaping the Future of Child Health: Global Perspectives, Research Innovations, and Clinical Frontiers in Kaumarabhritya.” The occasion also marked the Institute’s Foundation Day. It celebrated a decade of progress in Ayurvedic education, clinical services, scientific research and innovation.
The Vice-President called for greater scientific research to establish the efficacy of traditional healthcare practices, strengthen patient confidence and enhance the global acceptance of India’s traditional systems of medicine. He noted that India’s traditional systems of medicine represent a valuable legacy rooted in its civilisational wisdom and centuries-old knowledge traditions. He also highlighted the international recognition of Yoga and the establishment of the WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine in Jamnagar as important milestones in sharing India’s traditional knowledge with the world.
Referring to Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of developing AIIA at par with AIIMS, the Vice President said the Institute was progressing towards realising this vision. Congratulating AIIA on its 10th Foundation Day, he emphasised the importance of sustained efforts in research, innovation and academic excellence to further strengthen the Institute’s standing. He called upon researchers and practitioners to preserve traditional wisdom, strengthen it through scientific validation and place child health at the centre of their efforts.
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Ayush and Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Shri Prataprao Jadhav, highlighted the transformative journey of India’s traditional systems of medicine over the past decade under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. He also noted that Ayurveda and other traditional healthcare systems, once often regarded as alternative approaches, are increasingly being integrated into the broader healthcare framework through institutional development, scientific research, quality assurance and evidence-based clinical practices.
Referring to the Ministry of Ayush’s 11-year progress, Shri Prataprao Jadhav highlighted the growing public trust in Ayush systems, the expansion of healthcare services and India’s increasing international recognition in traditional medicine. The Minister commended AIIA for emerging as a leading institution in this transformation. He noted that since its dedication to the nation by the Prime Minister in 2017, the Institute has strengthened its academic and clinical capabilities, earned NAAC A++ accreditation, expanded its specialised outpatient services and advanced its research infrastructure.
Emphasising the significance of KAUMARACON-2026, Shri Jadhav said that child health must remain a national priority and that India’s classical Ayurvedic knowledge offers valuable perspectives on preventive healthcare, maternal and child nutrition, growth and development. He underscored the importance of combining this traditional knowledge with contemporary scientific methods to establish credible, safe and effective approaches to paediatric healthcare.
Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary, Ministry of Ayush, described the occasion as an opportunity to reflect on the achievements of the Ayush sector and the institutional transformation of traditional medicine in India. He highlighted the Government’s efforts to strengthen Ayush through the National Ayush Mission, expanded healthcare access, research initiatives, quality assurance and international collaboration. He referred to the establishment of the WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine in Jamnagar and the growing availability of scientific literature through the Ayush Research Portal and Traditional Medicine Global Library.
Highlighting AIIA’s contribution, Vaidya Kotecha noted that the Institute operates more than 45 specialised OPDs, offers postgraduate and doctoral education across 12 specialties, mentors 105 pharmacovigilance centres and maintains more than 97 national and international academic collaborations. He also referred to the establishment of the AIIA satellite campus in Goa and the announcement of three new AIIA institutions in the Union Budget 2026–27.
Referring to the central role of Kaumarabhritya, the Secretary emphasised the importance of research, collaboration and innovation in strengthening paediatric healthcare. He expressed confidence that KAUMARACON-2026 would further advance Ayurveda’s contribution to child health and reinforce its role in India’s healthcare system.
Welcoming the dignitaries, Prof. (Vaidya) P. K. Prajapati, Director, AIIA, New Delhi described KAUMARACON-2026 as a significant milestone in the Institute’s journey towards completing a decade of service, academic advancement and scientific achievement. He expressed gratitude to the Vice-President for gracing the occasion and reaffirmed AIIA’s commitment to integrating classical Ayurvedic knowledge with contemporary scientific inquiry. He highlighted the Institute’s progress since its dedication to the nation in 2017, noting that AIIA has earned NAAC A++ accreditation and NABH quality recognition and has continued to expand its specialised clinical services, research facilities and academic programmes.
Prof. Prajapati emphasised that child healthcare is fundamental to building a healthy society. He highlighted the establishment of the KINDER Lab, which provides specialised facilities for paediatric electrophysiology and non-invasive diagnostics, and the Ayurinformatics Lab, which supports AI-driven formulation development and dosage design. He noted that the conference provides a valuable platform for sharing clinical insights, discussing translational research and exploring child-friendly therapeutic approaches. He expressed confidence that the scientific deliberations would foster international collaboration and open new avenues for improving child healthcare through research and innovation.
During the inaugural ceremony, the Vice-President inaugurated the Ayush Start-up Portal, the AIIA–iCAINE website and the Ayurveda Digital Innovation and Venture Acceleration Facility (AyuDIVA). He also launched the Vamana App and the Panchakarma Assessment App, marking an important step towards strengthening digital infrastructure, entrepreneurship and technology-enabled clinical practice in Ayurveda.
An international Memorandum of Understanding between Maharishi International University (MIU), USA, and AIIA, New Delhi, was also exchanged in the presence of the Vice-President, reflecting the Institute’s commitment to international academic and research collaboration.
Dr. Maneesha Upendra Kothekar, Chairperson, National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM), graced the occasion along with senior officials of the Ministry of Ayush and heads of various Ayush institutes. The conference also brought together eminent Vaidyas, paediatric healthcare specialists, researchers, academicians and international delegates from across the globe.
KAUMARACON-2026 will continue to deliberate on advances in Ayurvedic paediatric care, with scientific sessions and discussions aimed at strengthening evidence-based approaches to child health.