Yoga to be made compulsory in schools: Govt

The HRD Ministry has asked all states to make yoga compulsory in school curriculum and the course is expected to started from the coming academic session, Minister of State for AYUSH Shripad Yesso Naik said on Friday.

"Recently, our HRD Minister has sent a notice to all states asking them to make yoga compulsory (in schools). I think it will be started in all schools from the coming academic session," he said in Lok Sabha during Question Hour.

Naik said so far, Yoga has not been made compulsory in all schools and they were told that those students who wished to enroll themselves in it should be allowed to do so.

"We have told them that whoever wants to do Yoga, they should be allowed to do Yoga. Otherwise physical training is adjusted in the same period," he said.

Naik said Yoga has been made compulsory for police personnel and plans are afoot to make it compulsory also for defence personnel.

"A scheme titled 'Yoga Training for Police Personnel' has been initiated by the Ministry," he said.

The Minister said the government has succeeded in adoption of June 21 as the International Day of Yoga. The 1st International Day of Yoga was celebrated in the country in a grand manner on June 21 2015, which was celebrated across the globe involving 192 countries.

"Arrangements for celebrating 2nd International Day of Yoga on June 21, 2016 has also started," he said.