DRAVYA Portal: Digitising Ayush Knowledge
The Ministry of Ayush launches the DRAVYA Portal to digitise Ayurvedic knowledge. Developed by CCRAS, this AI-ready platform bridges traditional wisdom and modern science, promoting evidence-based research and global collaboration in Ayush medicine.
Context
The Ministry of Ayush has launched the DRAVYA (Digitised Retrieval Application for Versatile Yardstick of Ayush) portal, a digital platform developed by the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS). In its first phase, it catalogues 100 key medicinal substances, marking a milestone in digitising India’s traditional medicine knowledge base.
What is the DRAVYA Portal?
The DRAVYA portal is an AI-ready online knowledge repository designed to bring together classical Ayurvedic wisdom and contemporary scientific research. It was launched during the 10th Ayurveda Day (2025) celebrations in Goa, reflecting India’s ongoing commitment to integrating traditional knowledge systems with digital innovation.
Developed by CCRAS, an autonomous body under the Ministry of Ayush, the portal’s primary objective is to standardise, authenticate, and digitise information on medicinal plants, formulations, and substances used across the Ayush (Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa-Rigpa, and Homoeopathy) systems.
The platform’s AI-readiness ensures that data is structured, searchable, and suitable for advanced analysis — enabling machine learning applications for drug discovery and research. It also features QR code-based access, linking directly to verified records of medicinal plants in gardens, repositories, and laboratories, ensuring transparency and traceability.
The DRAVYA portal has been designed for interoperability, allowing integration with larger digital initiatives such as the Ayush Grid, a central digital ecosystem under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM). This ensures a seamless flow of authenticated data between healthcare institutions, researchers, and policymakers, advancing India’s vision of a digitally empowered traditional health ecosystem.
Why is DRAVYA Significant?
1. Evidence-Based Integration
The portal bridges the gap between traditional wisdom and modern scientific validation. By digitising classical texts alongside modern pharmacological studies, DRAVYA supports clinical standardisation and safety validation of Ayush drugs — a key objective outlined in NITI Aayog’s 2023 report on Integrative Health Systems.
It serves as a scientific backbone for future integrative health policy, enabling healthcare practitioners to rely on evidence-backed formulations in patient care.
2. Global Accessibility and Collaboration
As an open-access digital platform, DRAVYA enhances India’s global leadership in traditional medicine. It supports international collaboration by providing a verified, easily navigable database for researchers, pharmacologists, and pharmaceutical companies interested in Ayush-based therapeutics.
In doing so, it amplifies India’s soft power, positioning it as a global hub for traditional medicine innovation, aligned with the WHO’s Traditional Medicine Global Strategy (2025–2034).
3. Policy, Research, and Industry Support
DRAVYA provides policymakers and researchers with structured, cross-referenced, and validated data — aiding decision-making for health policy formulation, drug regulation, and intellectual property protection.
For innovators and entrepreneurs, the portal offers a foundation for evidence-based product development, especially in nutraceuticals, herbal formulations, and wellness products.
4. Enabler of Innovation and Harmonisation
The platform encourages cross-disciplinary collaboration among experts in botany, chemistry, pharmacology, and data science. It supports pharmacopoeial harmonisation by aligning Indian standards with global benchmarks.
Moreover, with India’s herbal and natural product market projected to exceed USD 10 billion by 2025 (MoAyush), DRAVYA provides the scientific infrastructure necessary to ensure quality, efficacy, and market competitiveness.
5. Preserving and Modernising Indian Knowledge Systems
DRAVYA exemplifies the fusion of Bharatiya Gyan Parampara (Indian knowledge traditions) with digital technology. By transforming ancient medical manuscripts into structured, AI-compatible data, it safeguards indigenous knowledge while ensuring its contemporary relevance.
This initiative not only promotes research but also encourages younger generations to engage with Ayurveda and allied systems through a modern digital interface.
Conclusion
The launch of the DRAVYA portal represents a transformative step in India’s digital health journey. By combining Ayurvedic heritage with artificial intelligence, it paves the way for a future where traditional knowledge is validated, accessible, and globally recognised.
As part of the broader Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission, DRAVYA underscores the government’s commitment to an inclusive, technology-driven, and evidence-based healthcare ecosystem — one that honours tradition while embracing modernity.
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The Source’s Authority and Ownership of the Article is Claimed By THE STUDY IAS BY MANIKANT SINGH
