Women are emerging as a significant part of India’s rapidly expanding Ayush services sector, accounting for 43% of the overall workforce, according to a recent assessment by the Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS).
The Ayush services sector, covering Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa-Rigpa and Homoeopathy, was valued at an estimated US$36.92 billion in FY2024-25. The sector has recorded a 16.91 per cent compound annual growth rate (CAGR) since FY2022-23 and currently supports around 1.76 million livelihoods across healthcare, wellness, education and allied services.
Women’s participation is particularly strong across organised Ayush establishments. Female representation exceeds 60% in spas and wellness resorts, while women account for 58 per cent of the workforce in educational institutes, 57% in day-care centres and 53% in hospitals.
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Ayush and Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Prataprao Jadhav, said the sector’s expansion is creating employment opportunities across healthcare, wellness, education and allied services while opening avenues for entrepreneurship, skill development and greater women’s workforce participation.
The findings were highlighted in the Ayush Service Sector Report, a study by RIS released on Ayurveda Day 2026. The report noted that more than one million livelihoods are concentrated in local and standalone clinics, underlining the sector’s extensive employment footprint across urban and rural India.
Standalone clinics remain the largest revenue-generating segment, contributing US$16.21 billion, or 43.9% of total Ayush services revenue. Day-care centres contribute another US$10.13 billion. Ayurveda is the largest individual Ayush system, accounting for US$17.73 billion, or nearly 48 per cent of sector revenue.
The wellness segment recorded a strong 21.29 per cent CAGR, while Yoga centres saw revenue growth of around 75 per cent over two years. The sector is also expanding its role in Medical Value Travel, generating an estimated US$1.77 billion in FY2024-25.
The report projects the Ayush services industry could grow to between US$ 216–318 billion, potentially creating significant opportunities in healthcare, wellness, education, research, digital health and medical travel.