Content

1. Ayurveda Day
2. High energy pushes atomic brotherhood making way for next generation quantum devices

Ayurveda Day

What is Ayurveda?

• Meaning: “Ayur” = Life, “Veda” = Knowledge → Science of Life.
• Principle: Harmony between body, mind, spirit, and environment.
• Pillars: Preventive care, lifestyle management, diet, and natural therapies.
• Philosophy: Seeks balance between humans and nature, linking health to ecological well-being.

Relevance :

• GS1 – Indian Heritage & Culture: Ayurveda, ancient holistic health system; harmony of body, mind, spirit, environment.
• GS2 – Governance / International Relations: Ministry of AYUSH initiatives; ICD-11 recognition; ISO/BIS standards; MoUs with WHO, Germany, Japan, Mauritius, Nepal.
• GS3 – Science & Technology / Environment: Digital portals (DRAVYA, APTA), Ran-Bhaji Utsav; preventive healthcare, sustainability, medical tourism.

Ayurveda Day: Background

• First celebrated: 2016, focused on “Diabetes Prevention & Control”.
• Earlier Date: Dhanteras (Lord Dhanvantari’s birthday, divine physician).
• Fixed Date (since 2025): September 23 (Gazette Notification, March 2025).
• Purpose: Institutionalize Ayurveda as a global calendar event.

• Evolution of Themes:
  • 2022: Ayurveda @ 2047 (vision under Amrit Mahotsav).
  • 2023: Ayurveda for One Health (human-animal-plant-environment interlinkage).
  • 2024: “Vaishvik Swasthya Ke Liye” (Global Health through Ayurveda).
  • 2025: “Ayurveda for People & Planet” (health + sustainability).

Ayurveda Day 2025 Highlights

• 10th edition, celebrated at All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), Goa.
• Massive Outreach: Across India + 150+ countries via Indian Missions, universities, wellness orgs, diaspora.
• Key Launches:
  • Desh ka Swasthya Parikshan: Nationwide health check campaign (CCRAS).
  • DRAVYA Portal: Largest database on Ayurvedic herbs/products (classical + modern data).
  • APTA Portal: Documenting lives & contributions of Ayurveda luminaries.
  • Integrated Oncology Unit: Jointly by AIIA, Goa Govt., Tata Memorial Centre.
  • Ran-Bhaji Utsav: Celebrating local edible plants for health & biodiversity.
  • New Hospital Infrastructure: Sterile supply, linen care, blood supply at AIIA Goa.
• Recognition: National Dhanwantari Ayurveda Awards to promote excellence in practice, teaching, research, and policy.

Institutional & Policy Framework

• Ministry of AYUSH (2014): Dedicated ministry for Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, Homeopathy.
• National AYUSH Mission (2014):
  • Strengthening AYUSH hospitals & dispensaries.
  • Co-location of AYUSH in PHCs, CHCs, DHs.
  • Establishment of integrated hospitals.
• Global Integration Efforts:
  • WHO: Inclusion of Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani in ICD-11 (TM-2).
  • ISO (2023): Dedicated standards for Ayurveda for global credibility.
  • BIS: 91 standards (herbs, Panchakarma equipment, Yoga terminology).
  • WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine: Gujarat.
  • MoUs with countries: Germany, Mauritius, Japan, Nepal.
  • AYUSH Chairs in foreign universities: e.g., Western Sydney University.
  • AYUSH Cells in 30+ countries.

Economic & Societal Relevance

• Billion-dollar industry: Growing demand in preventive healthcare & wellness sector.
• Medical Tourism: Ayurveda centers attracting international patients.
• Innovation: Digital Ayurveda tools, start-up incubation, integration with modern healthcare.
• Employment: Expanding sector generates opportunities in pharma, research, wellness, and tourism.

Arguments in Favor

• Holistic Healthcare: Preventive and lifestyle-based approach suits modern health challenges (obesity, diabetes, stress).
• Global Recognition: WHO, ISO, BIS standardization increases credibility.
• Sustainability Link: “People & Planet” aligns Ayurveda with environmental ethics and SDGs (climate-health nexus).
• Cultural Soft Power: Enhances India’s global leadership in traditional knowledge.

Challenges

• Scientific Validation: Need for more robust clinical trials and peer-reviewed research.
• Integration Issues: Coordination with allopathic medicine still limited.
• Commercialization Risks: Over-commercial use may dilute authenticity and sustainability of medicinal plants.
• Access & Equity: Benefits of Ayurveda must reach rural & marginalized communities, not just urban elites or foreign markets.

Holistic Perspective

• People Dimension: Preventive healthcare, lifestyle balance, mental health, affordable wellness.
• Planet Dimension: Sustainable use of medicinal plants, biodiversity protection, local edible greens (Ran-Bhaji Utsav), climate-adaptive health practices.
• Global Dimension: Bridging traditional knowledge with modern healthcare systems, enhancing India’s soft power, promoting “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” (One Earth, One Family, One Future).

Conclusion

• Ayurveda Day 2025 marks a milestone in positioning Ayurveda as a science of both human and planetary health.
• By combining ancient wisdom with modern validation, and local roots with global outreach, Ayurveda is being rebranded as not just India’s heritage, but a global public good.
• Its future lies in scientific rigor, sustainable practices, equitable access, and global collaboration, ensuring Ayurveda’s role as a cornerstone of the 21st century wellness movement.

High energy pushes atomic brotherhood making way for next generation quantum devices

Atoms & Rydberg States

• Atom: Smallest unit of matter with electrons orbiting around the nucleus.
• Rydberg Atom: Atom with one electron excited to a very high energy level → atom “balloons” in size.
• Special Properties:
  • Hypersensitive to external fields (electric, magnetic, light).
  • Strong inter-atomic interactions.
  • Ideal for exploring quantum entanglement and simulations.

Relevance :

• GS3 – Science & Technology: Collective behavior in Rydberg atoms; next-gen quantum computers, sensors, communication devices.
• GS2 – Governance / Strategic Technology: Supports National Quantum Mission; strengthens Atmanirbhar Bharat in high-tech strategic sectors.

The Experiment (India-led)

• Institutes: Raman Research Institute (RRI), Bengaluru (experimental), IISER Pune (theoretical).
• Atoms Used: Rubidium atoms cooled to near absolute zero → trapped with lasers + magnetic fields.
• Process:
  • Excited atoms with light into Rydberg states.
  • Observed Autler–Townes splitting (clean signal pattern of excited atoms).
  • Pushed beyond 100th energy level → signals distorted (blurred).
• Significance: Distortion is not noise/error but evidence of atoms interacting collectively, not behaving independently.

Discovery & Its Meaning

• First Global Demonstration: Interaction-driven distortions at such high Rydberg states.
• Threshold Identified: The line between isolated precision atoms and entangled atomic communities.
• Implication: Knowing when atoms “talk” to each other is crucial for building quantum devices.

Why It Matters for Quantum Tech

• Quantum Computers: Collective behavior of atoms can be harnessed for faster and more secure processing.
• Quantum Sensors: Ultra-precise detection of signals (magnetic fields, gravity waves, etc.).
• Quantum Communication: Secure, entanglement-based data transfer.
• Simulation of Complex Systems: Understanding biological, chemical, or astrophysical systems by mimicking them with interacting atoms.

Technological & Scientific Contributions

• Detection Breakthrough:
  • Custom detection system at RRI → capable of catching signals from even a few photons.
  • Enabled study of very high Rydberg states (n > 100) where signals are weak.
• Collaboration: Experimental (RRI) + theoretical (IISER Pune) integration → strong India-led innovation.
• Scientific Advance: Validates models of how matter transitions from single-particle physics to collective quantum systems.

India’s Position in Global Quantum Race

• Global Visibility: First to show such distortions at high Rydberg states → places India on the frontline of quantum research.
• Strategic Value:
  • Supports India’s National Quantum Mission (2023–2031).
  • Strengthens India’s role in emerging tech geopolitics (US, EU, China also racing in quantum).
• Talent Development: Young researchers (PhD students) at the heart of discovery → builds next-gen scientific ecosystem.

Broader Implications

• Fundamental Physics: New insights into matter’s behavior at extreme scales.
• Technology Development: Helps design reliable, scalable quantum devices.
• Innovation Ecosystem: Bridges lab-scale physics with real-world engineering of sensors/computers.
• National Impact: Boosts Atmanirbhar Bharat in high-tech frontiers, reducing dependence on Western quantum ecosystems.

Strengths:

• Pioneering experiment, globally significant.
• Demonstrates India’s ability to engineer sensitive detection setups.
• Strong collaboration between experimental and theoretical physics.

Challenges:

• Translating lab-scale physics into commercially viable devices is a long process.
• Needs large-scale funding and industry partnerships to compete with US/China quantum investments.
• Requires integration with global supply chains for quantum hardware (lasers, cryogenics, semiconductors).

Conclusion

• This breakthrough marks a turning point in India’s quantum journey.
• By proving how atoms shift from independent to collective behavior under extreme energy, Indian scientists have opened a new roadmap for quantum computers, sensors, and communication systems.
• The discovery strengthens India’s scientific prestige, technological capabilities, and strategic positioning in the global quantum revolution.