The Supreme Court has requested a response from the Centre on a petition urging the inclusion of Ayurveda, yoga, and naturopathy within the Ayushman Bharat scheme. A bench comprising Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, and Justices J.B. Pardiwala and Manoj Misra issued the notice to the Centre and related parties.

The petition, submitted by advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay, calls for integrating these traditional health practices into the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY), widely known as Ayushman Bharat. According to the plea, such inclusion would provide affordable healthcare options for a significant portion of India’s population in treating various serious diseases, while also generating employment opportunities for professionals in the fields of Ayurveda, yoga, and naturopathy.

Launched in 2018, Ayushman Bharat comprises two key components: the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) and the Health and Wellness Centres.

PM-JAY offers cashless health insurance coverage of ₹5 lakh annually to each Below Poverty Line (BPL) family. The petitioner has requested the scheme's implementation across all states, with a specific focus on integrating traditional Indian healthcare systems.

"PM-JAY, that is, Ayushman Bharat predominantly covers and is limited to allopathic hospitals and dispensaries, while India boasts various indigenous medical systems, including ayurveda, yoga, naturopathy, siddha, unani, homeopathy, which are rooted in India's rich traditions and are highly effective in addressing the healthcare needs of the present time," it said. The plea claimed due to various "policies created by foreign rulers" and "individuals with a colonial mindset" India's cultural and intellectual knowledge, besides scientific heritage, had systematically eroded.

"These foreigners, motivated by a profit-oriented approach, have thoughtfully implemented many laws and schemes during the time of our country's independence that have slowly undermined our rich heritage and history," it alleged.