Padma Gurmet receives Wellness Visionary honour for promoting traditional medicine

Padma Gurmet, who heads the National Institute of Sowa-Rigpa in Leh, received the Wellness Visionary Award for Holistic Healing from Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University, Kanpur. The announcement was made on 3 November 2026. The award presentation formed part of the third International Conference on Wellness, held from 30 October 2026 to 1 November 2026. His contribution to traditional medicine and holistic health care was recognised.

Facts to remember

• Recipient: Padma Gurmet, Director of the National Institute of Sowa-Rigpa.
• Awarding institution: Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh.
• Conference dates: 30 October 2026 to 1 November 2026.
• The institute is located in Leh, in the Union Territory of Ladakh.

Background

Sowa-Rigpa is a traditional medical system associated with Himalayan communities. The National Institute of Sowa-Rigpa operates as an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Ayush. Its role includes preserving and developing this medical tradition while supporting education, research and patient care. Its objectives also cover scientific validation, drug safety evaluation, standardisation and quality control. These functions provide the institutional background to the honour: recognition of an individual can be studied alongside the public body and knowledge system connected with that person. For static general knowledge, retain the link between Sowa-Rigpa and Leh rather than confusing this institute with institutions devoted to other medical systems. The institute also supports continuing education for practitioners and teachers and works to increase public awareness of Sowa-Rigpa.

Why it matters for exams

For CLAT and UGC-NET Law current affairs, revise Awards and Persons in News. Link the recipient, awarding university, medical tradition and location as a single factual revision set.