ITRA Jamnagar Hosts Ayu-Tech Navonmesh 2026 on AI in Ayurveda

The Institute of Teaching and Research in Ayurveda (ITRA), Jamnagar, held a national conference on artificial intelligence and Ayurveda under the title Ayu-Tech Navonmesh 2026. The conference was tied to the institute's sixth Foundation Day, which was observed as ITRA Day on 15 October 2026. ITRA works under the Ministry of Ayush and the event brought Ayurveda scholars, researchers, technology specialists and foreign delegates together, in the hall and online.

Why the institute matters

ITRA is the first Ayurveda institute in the country to be granted the status of an Institute of National Importance. Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated it to the nation on 15 October 2020. Since then it has worked on Ayurveda teaching, research and patient care while trying to put traditional knowledge on a modern scientific footing.

Hospital and patient numbers

The institute runs an NABH-accredited 300-bed hospital. Over the past six years it has given advice and treatment to 18,47,807 patients through 22 outpatient departments, and 27,520 patients have been treated as inpatients. Its official television channel, the Ayush Next Communication Network (ANCN), completed one year of broadcasting.

What the conference took up

Sessions were built around four themes: artificial intelligence and digital knowledge in traditional medicine systems, responsible AI for Ayurveda with its questions of ethics and scientific evidence, AI-based Ayurveda from traditional practice to intelligent health services, and the use of AI for innovation, product development and responsible clinical trials. Prof. Tanuja Nesari, Director of ITRA, said the meeting had opened a dialogue between classical Ayurvedic knowledge and advanced technology. Dr Geetha Krishnan of the World Health Organization's Global Traditional Medicine Centre argued that AI should support Ayurveda rather than replace its core wisdom, and that its principles must be understood before any new tool is adopted. Sameer Pujari, AI lead for digital health and innovation at WHO headquarters, spoke on the risks around ethics, data privacy and regulation in traditional medicine. Naman Goyal, Officer on Special Duty for Ayush Grid, showed AI chatbots and other digital tools built for Ayush services.

Courses offered

ITRA teaches Ayurveda from the undergraduate level up to the doctorate, offers diploma to doctoral study in Ayurveda pharmacy, and runs short and diploma courses in Yoga and Naturopathy, including a special Yoga course for practising doctors.