Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday, 11 July 2026, inaugurated ACUCON 2026: National Conference on Acupuncture in Nagpur, pledging to personally advocate with the Prime Minister and the Union Health Minister for stronger national-level safeguards for the therapy.

Context

Addressing the conference, Fadnavis drew on a deeply personal narrative: after years of trying multiple treatments for severe back pain, he found lasting relief through acupuncture roughly two decades ago. 'This first-hand experience has given me deep faith in the immense potential of acupuncture,' he said, framing his advocacy as rooted in lived experience rather than policy alone.

The Chief Minister described acupuncture as 'a time-tested therapy that has existed for many centuries,' one that works by stimulating specific Marma points (energy nodes) across the body, reflecting a deep understanding of human physiology codified in ancient practice.

Policy Backdrop

Maharashtra has been among the more active states in institutionalising acupuncture. Fadnavis noted that the Maharashtra Acupuncture Council was established in 2015 to create a formal framework for education, training, and regulated practice of the therapy across the state. Since then, the council has worked to strengthen institutional infrastructure.

The move fits into India's broader AYUSH policy architecture, under which the central government has progressively sought to mainstream traditional and complementary therapies alongside modern medicine. Maharashtra's 2015 initiative mirrors a wider pattern of state-level regulatory bodies being set up to standardise practice and protect practitioners and patients alike.

Fadnavis reaffirmed his government's commitment to 'expanding this field, strengthening educational avenues and addressing the challenges faced by the sector,' signalling that policy attention to acupuncture will continue beyond the conference.

Stakeholders and Impact

The conference brought together senior figures from across the acupuncture ecosystem. Dr. Rumi Beramji, Administrator of the Maharashtra Council of Acupuncture; Dr. Raman Kapur, Chairman of the National Coordination Committee of Acupuncture, Delhi; and Dr. Trideep Guha, President of Ayushman Acupuncture College and Hospital, Nagpur, were among the dignitaries present.

For the estimated thousands of acupuncture practitioners across Maharashtra and the country, as well as chronic-pain patients who rely on the therapy, the Chief Minister's public commitment carries significant weight. Regulatory clarity and formal recognition at the national level could open pathways for insurance coverage, standardised curricula, and wider institutional acceptance.

What's Next

Fadnavis announced that he would 'actively communicate' with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Health Minister J. P. Nadda on concrete steps to safeguard acupuncture, describing himself as an 'ambassador for this cause.' The outcomes of those conversations — including any potential central regulatory framework or inclusion in national health schemes — will be closely watched by the acupuncture and broader AYUSH community.

With a sitting Chief Minister publicly committing to lobby the Union government on behalf of a traditional therapy, ACUCON 2026 may prove to be a turning point in the push for national recognition of acupuncture in India's formal healthcare landscape.