MP Ayush interns step up stipend protest, seek Rs 21,500 parity with MBBS
Representative image: Free-Photos / Pixabay
Ayush interns marched in Jabalpur on October 10, 2026, pressing Madhya Pradesh to lift their stipend from Rs 9,383 to Rs 21,500, the rate paid to MBBS interns.
What Happened
Between 150 and 200 Ayush interns in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, held a candlelight march to press their demand for a higher monthly stipend, in a protest reported on October 10, 2026. The interns walked from the Government Ayurvedic College to Jhanda Chowk, where they formed a human chain. They want their stipend raised from Rs 9,383 a month to Rs 21,500, the amount the state now pays MBBS interns. The march is the latest step in a campaign that began in September, when Ayurveda interns in Bhopal gave the state government a 15-day deadline and warned that they could stop OPD duty.
Key Facts
- About 150 to 200 Ayush interns marched in Jabalpur from the Government Ayurvedic College to Jhanda Chowk, according to a report dated October 10, 2026.
- The interns currently receive Rs 9,383 a month and are seeking Rs 21,500, equal to MBBS interns.
- Madhya Pradesh raised the MBBS interns' stipend by 50 per cent to Rs 21,500 after protests by MBBS interns earlier in 2026.
- On September 22, 2026, Ayurveda interns in Bhopal submitted a memorandum at the Collectorate and gave the government 15 days to act, warning they would withdraw from OPD duty.
- On September 23 and 24, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said the government might soon raise the Ayush interns' stipend.
- No order raising the stipend had been reported by October 10; the Jabalpur interns said talks had not yet produced one.
Why It Matters
Ayush interns are graduates in their final, compulsory year of hands-on training in Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, homoeopathy and related systems. During internship they work in hospital wards and outpatient clinics attached to their colleges, often seeing a large share of the patients who come to these institutions. Their stipend is meant to support them through this year, but at Rs 9,383 a month it is now well under half of what an MBBS intern in the same state receives.
The interns' argument is one of parity. They say that they work similar hours in public institutions and should be paid on the same scale. The gap widened sharply this year when the state raised MBBS stipends to Rs 21,500 after a protest, which Ayush students see as proof that the government can act when it chooses. Student groups have joined the campaign, and the Jabalpur interns said they had support from the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad.
The dispute also matters for patients. Many people in Madhya Pradesh, especially in smaller towns, use government Ayurveda and homoeopathy hospitals for everyday care. A withdrawal from OPD duty, which the Bhopal interns have threatened, would put pressure on these services. For the state, the decision has a budget cost, but the government has publicly signalled sympathy: the Chief Minister said he had discussed the issue with Ayush Minister Inder Singh Parmar and that interns would get good news soon.
| Date | Development |
|---|---|
| September 22, 2026 | Bhopal Ayurveda interns submit memorandum, set 15-day deadline |
| September 23-24, 2026 | Chief Minister Mohan Yadav hints at stipend increase |
| October 10, 2026 | Jabalpur interns hold candlelight march and human chain |
Impact
Short-term: Unless the state issues an order, the interns' protests may grow, with the risk of OPD services at government Ayush hospitals being affected.
Long-term: A decision in Madhya Pradesh could set a benchmark for Ayush intern pay in other states and shape how attractive Ayush courses are to students compared with MBBS.
Who is affected: Ayush interns and students in Madhya Pradesh, patients who rely on government Ayurveda and homoeopathy hospitals, college administrators, and the state's Ayush and finance departments.
Key Takeaway
Madhya Pradesh's Ayush interns are escalating their campaign for a stipend of Rs 21,500, equal to MBBS interns, as a promised increase has yet to be formally ordered.
Questions and Answers
How much do Ayush interns in Madhya Pradesh get now, and what do they want?
They receive Rs 9,383 a month and are asking for Rs 21,500 a month, the same stipend the state pays MBBS interns after raising it by 50 per cent this year.
Has the government agreed to raise the stipend?
Not formally. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said in late September that the stipend might be raised soon, but no order had been reported by October 10, 2026.
Will Ayush hospital OPDs be shut?
Interns in Bhopal warned in September that they could stop OPD duty if the government did not act within 15 days. No OPD shutdown had been reported by October 10, but the interns have said they will escalate if there is no decision.
Who are Ayush interns?
They are graduates of Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, homoeopathy and related courses doing a compulsory year of supervised clinical training in hospitals and clinics before they can practise independently.
Disclaimer: Prepared by the Peepals newsroom from publicly available sources with AI assistance. Information is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication and may change. Images may be representative. Not professional advice. Report an error via our contact page.
Sourced and fact-checked by the Peepals Global Editorial Team
Vishwarang 2026 in Bihar puts India's languages and knowledge traditions in focus
Centres of Excellence approved for classical Pali, Prakrit, Marathi, Bengali, Assamese
Reported, fact-checked and published by the Peepals Global Editorial Team.
