OREANDA-NEWS. First Yoga Olympiad at National level was held (18-19th June, 2016) in which 21 States/UTs participated, Hon’ble Human Resource Development Minister Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani gave away prizes to winners on June 20th, 2016 in the presence of Union Minister of AYUSH, Shri Shripad Yesso Naik. State/UT teams were divided into four categories viz., Upper Primary Girls, Upper Primary Boys, Secondary Girls and Secondary Boys. A total of 321 students along with their 79 teachers from 21 states/UTs participated in the Yoga Olympiad Performance.

The Central Government has for the first time given a decisive push to promotion of Yoga in Universities. A committee for promotion of Yoga in Universities was setup by the Government under the chairpersonship of Prof. H.R. Nagendra, Chancellor, Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anushandhana Samasthanam. As outcome of the receipt of the report the Government will ask the UGC to promote BSc(Yoga), MSc(Yoga) and PhD(Yoga) courses through Yoga Department in Universities in the country.

The UGC will also consider starting NET in Yogic Sciences during 2016-17 Six Central Universities viz. North: Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University, Uttarakhand; East: Visva Bharati, West Bengal; West: Central University of Rajasthan; South: Central University of Kerala; Central: The Indira Gandhi National Tribal University, Amarkantak, Madya Pradesh; & North East: Manipur University have been identified for Yoga department revamping/establishment.

The common Yoga Protocol will be followed on the International Day of Yoga.

UGC has also requested, on March, 03rd, 2016, Vice-Chancellors of Universities including Central Universities to organize 2-3 days “Yoga-Fest” during April/May, 2016 where students could be sensitized about the strengths and health benefits of Yoga in promoting physical, mental and spiritual health.

Based on the communication from Ministry of AYUSH, the Principal Secretaries of Higher Education of all States/UTs have been requested to facilitate training and successful conduct of International Day of Yoga celebrations by NCC Cadets on June 21st, 2016 by keeping Universities and colleges open during summer vacations.

AICTE has drawn action plan and holding workshops in Bengaluru, Pune, Chandigarh, Bhubaneswar, Hyderabad, etc. Experts/Key speakers will participate. AICTE has also written to Principal Secretaries of States/UTs dealing with Technical Education as also VCs of Universities.

IGNOU it has been confirmed by Distance Learning Division of Ministry of HRD that IGNOU is actively participating in Yoga programmes through its Fifty Regional Centres located all over India.

Various National Institutes of Technology have also confirmed holistic and coordinated action plan, including workshops, training, symposia, mass yoga demonstration, pictorial exhibitions, classical musical competitions, organizing NCC groups, talks on Yoga, etc.

IIM Ahmedabad has confirmed Yoga programmes which include quizzes, experience sharing, slokas, demonstration, etc.

IITs Gandhinagar, Jodhpur, Kharagpur, Roorkee etc., have also confirmed Yoga Day celebrations including Yoga exercise, Lecture on benefits of Yoga for healthy living, engaging Yoga Experts, engaging Sports Council, NSS, NCC, etc.