(a) whether the Government proposes to sign an agreement with the Ministry to make
yoga compulsory in education;
(b) if so, the time by which this process is likely to be implemented and if not, the reasons
therefor; and
(c) the number of colleges in the country including Bihar and Madhya Pradesh where
yoga is likely to be introduced, State/UT-wise?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
(Dr. MAHENDRA NATH PANDEY)
(a) & (b): As per the National Curriculum Framework (NCF)-2005, Yoga is an integral
part of Health and Physical Education at all level of school education. Education, being a
subject in the Concurrent List of the Constitution, and the majority of schools being under
the jurisdiction of the State Governments, it is for the respective State/ Union Territory
Governments to introduce this subject in their schools. For the schools affiliated to
Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), Health and Physical Education is
compulsory for Classes I to X and optional at classes XI and XII.
Further, so far as higher education is concerned, 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 had prescribed
curriculum for Yoga courses in its recommendations. As a follow up to the
recommendations of the committee, the Central Government had asked the University
Grants Commission (UGC) to promote five Yoga courses in Universities and Colleges.
Course and Course Code-wise duration of Yoga courses is as follows:
<pre>
S.No. Course Course Code Duration
1. Bachelors of Science (Yoga) B.Sc.(Yoga) 3 years to 6 years
2. Masters of Science (Yoga) M.Sc. (Yoga) 2 years to 4 years
3. Doctor of Philosophy (Yoga) PhD (Yoga) As per the PhD
duration
specified by UGC
4. Post Graduate Diploma in
Yoga
PGDY 1 year to 2 year
5. Post Graduate Diploma in
Yoga Therapy
PGDYT 1 year to 2 year
</pre>
The following Central Universities had been identified to start the Yoga
Departments, subject to the approvals of the competent authorities of concerned
Universities:
(i) Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University, Uttarakhand;
(ii) Visva Bharti Shantiniketan, West Bengal;
(iii) Central University of Rajasthan;
(iv) Central University of Kerala;
(v) Indira Gandhi National Tribal University, Madhya Pradesh; and
(vi) Manipur University.
(c): Universities are Autonomous Bodies created either under Central Acts or the State
Acts and the onus of introduction of courses including Yoga lies with these universities.
Colleges can start a course as per their requirements and resources available with them
with due approval of Universities to which these are affiliated to.
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