New Delhi: In a significant step towards preserving India’s rich heritage of medicinal plants and promoting sustainable development in the Ayush sector, the National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB), under the Ministry of Ayush, signed two major Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) on August 4, 2025. The MoUs aim to strengthen the conservation of rare and endangered medicinal species and enhance public awareness about their benefits. The ceremonial signing, held at Nirman Bhawan, New Delhi, was presided over by Union Minister of State for Ayush (Independent Charge) and Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Shri Prataprao Jadhav.
MoU with IshVed-Bioplants Venture: Conservation Through Innovation
The first MoU was signed between the NMPB and IshVed-Bioplants Venture, a Pune-based biotech firm. This partnership focuses on conserving and maintaining the germplasm of rare, endangered, and threatened (RET) medicinal plants using tissue culture techniques.
The collaboration will utilize modern biotechnological interventions to ensure the sustainable cultivation and supply of RET medicinal species that are crucial to the Ayush industry. The agreement emphasizes identifying common areas of cooperation and developing extensive cultivation and maintenance protocols to preserve germplasm. These efforts are expected to improve accessibility to valuable medicinal plants and contribute to biodiversity conservation in India.
MoU Among NMPB, AIIA, and AIIMS: A Garden to Heal and Educate
The second MoU is a tripartite agreement involving NMPB, the All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), and the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi. This collaboration will result in the creation of a National Medicinal Plants Garden within the AIIMS campus in the capital.
The initiative aims to enhance public awareness about the therapeutic and environmental significance of medicinal plants. Patients, students, and visitors from across the country will be able to access this living repository of traditional botanical knowledge. The project is also expected to serve as an educational hub, fostering knowledge exchange among modern medicine practitioners, Ayush professionals, and the general public.
Union Minister Highlights Vision of Holistic Health
While addressing the gathering, Shri Prataprao Jadhav emphasized the importance of integrating traditional Ayurvedic wisdom with modern scientific practices. He credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for a healthier, self-reliant India by 2047 as the driving force behind such initiatives.
“These MoUs represent a significant milestone in conserving and promoting India’s medicinal plant heritage. By combining our ancient traditions with cutting-edge research, we are paving the way for evidence-based, inclusive, and sustainable healthcare,” said the Minister.
Dignitaries Present at the Event
The MoU signing ceremony was attended by several dignitaries including:
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Shri Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary, Ministry of Ayush
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Shri M. Srinivas, Director, AIIMS New Delhi
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Smt. Ankita Mishra Bundela, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare
Senior officials from NMPB, AIIA, AIIMS, and the Ministry of Ayush also marked their presence, reflecting the inter-institutional commitment to the cause.
Conclusion
The two strategic MoUs signed by the National Medicinal Plants Board underscore a paradigm shift in India’s approach to medicinal plant conservation—moving from passive preservation to active, evidence-driven engagement. By leveraging scientific research and traditional knowledge, the Ministry of Ayush is creating sustainable pathways for healthcare and ecological resilience. These efforts will not only preserve India’s biodiversity but also enrich the global Ayush and healthcare ecosystem.
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