Question : Yoga Education in Universities

(a) whether it is mandatory for the universities to adopt modules from the syllabus
prepared by the Committee on Yoga Education in Universities for the courses offered by
them;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government has established that yoga practice has been a successful
treatment of ailments cured through physiotherapy;
(d) if so, the details thereof;
(e) whether any research has been undertaken in the past year to establish the same;
(f) if so, the details thereof;
(g) whether the Committee on Yoga Education in Universities include a physiotherapist;
and
(h) if so, whether the Ministry gives preference to candidates with ''requisite expertise in
Yoga'' for graduate admissions in physiotherapy courses?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
(Dr. MAHENDRA NATH PANDEY)

(a) & (b): The Central Government had appointed a committee, under the
chairpersonship of Prof. H.R. Nagendra, Chancellor, Swami Vivekananda Yoga
Anusandhana Samsthana, Bengaluru (S-VYASA) for making recommendations on
Yoga Education in Universities. The Committee has prescribed curriculum for Yoga
courses in its recommendations. The recommendations will help the Universities in
formulating their curriculum for Yoga courses offered by them. The UGC has informed
that Universities are autonomous in the matter of adopting the modules from the
syllabus prepared by the committee.
(c) to (f): Yoga is a traditional Indian psycho-philosophical-cultural method of leading
one’s life, that alleviates stress, induces relaxation and provides multiple health benefits
to the persons following its system.
(g): The members of the committee for promoting Yoga education in Universities are the
following:
(i) Prof. H.R. Nagendra, Chancellor, Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana
Samsthana, Bengaluru – Chairperson.
(ii) Prof. Suresh Lal Barnawal, Head, Department of Yoga, Dev Sanskriti
Vishwavidyalaya, Gayatrikunj-Shantikunj, Haridwar.
(iii) Prof. Ishwar Bharadwaj, Head, Department of Yogic Sciences, Gurukul
Kangri University, Haridwar.
(iv) Prof. Neel Kamal, University of Patanjali, Haridwar.
(v) Swami Atmapriyananda, Vice-Chancellor, Ramakrishna Vivekananda
University, Kolkata.
(vi) Pandit Radhey Shyam, Director, Ujjain Yoga Life Society International, Yoga
Bhavan, Taran Tall Premises, Kothi Road, Ujjain.
(vii) Prof. O P Tiwari, Kaivalayadhama, Lonawala.
(viii) Prof. Subramanayam, Adviser, Vivekananda College, Madurai.
(ix) Prof. P. Venkat Rangan, Vice-Chancellor, Amrita University, Coimbatore.
(x) Sri Rupen Bhowmik, Working President, Indian Yoga Federation, Agartala.
(xi) Joint Secretary, Department of AYUSH.
(xii) Secretary, UGC (Convener).
(h): A suggestion for exploring possibility of giving suitable preference in admission to
graduate courses in physiotherapy to candidates having requisite expertise in Yoga was
forwarded to the UGC for examination. No formal orders have been issued for
implementing the suggestion.
*****