Ayush Diplomacy Reaches the Arctic: India Champions Integrative Health Collaboration at Reykjavík Assembly

As part of the Indian delegation, Prof. (Vaidya) Rabinarayan Acharya, Director General, Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), and Dr. Srinivas Rao Chinta, Joint Advisor (Homoeopathy), Ministry of Ayush, participated in the 2025 Arctic Circle Assembly held at Reykjavík, Iceland.

During the plenary session titled “The Role and Importance of the Global South in the Arctic,” Prof. Acharya presented India’s proactive engagement in the Arctic region under its comprehensive Arctic Policy. He emphasised the growing relevance of traditional systems of medicine in addressing global health challenges and highlighted the potential of Ayush interventions in fostering wellness and resilience even in extreme ecosystems such as the Arctic.

The session was organised by the Government of India and featured distinguished speakers, including Rear Admiral T.V.N. Prasanna, Polar Coordinator, Government of India; Manish Tiwari, Scientist F, National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR); and Wassim Said, Steering Committee Member, Emirates Polar Program, UAE.

Prof. Acharya outlined a forward-looking vision to enhance collaboration between traditional knowledge systems and Arctic research. He proposed the launch of transdisciplinary proof-of-concept clinical trials in Arctic settings, the establishment of a joint research consortium under the Arctic policy architecture, and the development of capacity in cross-cultural Ayush delivery and safety surveillance. He further emphasised the need for publishing robust scientific evidence to bridge traditional and modern medicine and advocated embedding Ayush awareness within India’s Arctic outreach diplomacy.

The participation of the Ministry of Ayush delegation underscores India’s commitment to integrating Ayush-based evidence, innovation, and diplomacy into global sustainability and health dialogues. This engagement reaffirms India’s position as a responsible stakeholder promoting holistic wellness, scientific collaboration, and people-to-people partnerships under its Arctic Policy framework.