Question : Yoga Education

Will the Minister of AYURVEDA, YOGA AND NATUROPATHY, UNANI, SIDDHA AND HOMOEOPATHY (AYUSH) be pleased to state:

(a) the details of yoga centres functioning and professionals registered at present, State/UT-wise along with the details of criteria adopted for certification of these yoga centres;

(b) whether the Government proposes to spread yoga education through various level of courses at large scale in the country and if so, the details thereof, course-wise;

(c) whether the Government has announced voluntary certification of yoga professionals to certify the competence level of trainers and if so, the details thereof along with the details of regulatory authority for assessment and accreditation of the courses for yoga and naturopathy;

(d) whether the Government has made any plan to train a large number of youth in yoga and send them to various countries to encourage and spread yoga worldwide and if so, the details thereof; and

(e) the other efforts made by the Government including provision to provide visa facilities for long duration yoga courses to international students and to promote yoga as a lifestyle science instead of academic subject?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF AYURVEDA, YOGA & NATUROPATHY, UNANI, SIDDHA AND HOMOEOPATHY
(SHRI SHRIPAD YESSO NAIK)

(a) to (e) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. 152 FOR 25TH NOVERMBER, 2016

(a) Ministry of AYUSH through its two autonomous organizations namely the Central Council for Research in Yoga and Naturopathy (CCRYN) and Morarji Desai National Institute for Yoga (MDNIY) run 12 OPDs/ Yoga centres in Delhi and one in Haryana.
In addition there are a number of yoga centres run privately in the Country. The Ministry does not maintain data/ details of such centres. The Quality Control of India (QCI) has designed a Voluntary Certification Scheme for Yoga Training Institutions/ Organizations by adopting/ adapting global standards and certification system to ensure internationally acceptable certification. Two institutes have been certified by the QCI so far, under this scheme.
There is no scheme for registration of Yoga professionals. However, details of yoga practitioners possessing Bachelors in Naturopathy and Yogic Sciences (BNYS) as registered by the State Governments is enclosed at Annexure. Further, under ‘Voluntary Certification of Yoga Professionals’ scheme run by QCI on behalf of Ministry of AYUSH, the two tests namely, Level 1 and Level 2 have been passed by 502 and 232 candidates respectively.
(b) Yes. The Ministry of Human Resource Development has taken action to spread yoga education through courses in Colleges and Universities through UGC, based on the recommendations received from a Committee set up by them for Yoga in Education in June, 2016 as detailed below:

Course Course Code Eligibility
Bachelor of Science (Yoga) B.Sc (yoga) 12th Standard
Masters of Science (Yoga) M.Sc (Yoga) B.Sc (Yoga) or Graduation in any stream with PGDY
Doctor of Philosophy (Yoga)- PhD (Yoga) PhD(Yoga) M.Sc (Yoga) from any University recognized by the UGC, as per the PHD duration specified by UGC
Post Graduate Diploma in Yoga PGDY Graduation from any stream
Post Graduate Diploma in Yoga Therapy PGDYT Medical Graduation of 4 years or more

(c) The Ministry of AYUSH has launched a scheme for ‘Voluntary Certification of Yoga Professionals’ on 22nd June, 2015 in collaboration with Quality Council of India (QCI). This scheme aims at promoting authentic Yoga as a preventive and drugless therapy. It involves certifying the competence level of the professionals to help their deployment within and outside the country to meet the increased demand.
At present, there is no Central legislation for regulation of education and practice in Yoga and Naturopathy systems. The 5 ½ years professional course namely, Bachelor of Naturopathy and Yogic Sciences (BNYS) is regulated by the concerned State Governments.

(d) No. There is no such plan to train large number of youths in Yoga to send them to various countries. However, the yoga courses conducted by the colleges/ institutes including MDNIY train youths for securing jobs in the country and abroad. Further, the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) deploys Yoga Teachers in its Culture Centres overseas. It has separate panels for Yoga teachers and experts. Presently, a total of 31 Yoga Teachers are deployed abroad. In addition to this, ICCR also sent 35 Yoga Teachers during the IDY 2016 celebrations. Two AYUSH troupes comprising of AYUSH experts were also sent to Saint Denis and Iraq.

(e) The Ministry of Home Affairs, Foreigners Division has formulated a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to be adopted for consideration of requests from various Institutions imparting training in Yoga, Vedic Culture and Indian System of Dance/ music etc. for inclusion of their name in the Visa manual for grant of Standard Visa to foreign nationals, intending to join the Institutes for the study of Yoga courses etc for a period of 5 years or 3 years(as the case may be) subject to fulfilment of laid down conditions. Further, the ICCR has established a Yoga College in Kunming University, China. The Government’s efforts to promote Yoga places equal significance on its roles as a lifestyle science and an academic subject.