Union Minister of Human Resource Development, Smriti Zubin Irani on Saturday announced that government has decided to open Yoga departments in six central universities of the country during 2016-2017.
These universities are Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University of Uttrakhand, Visva Bharati University of West Bengal, Central University of Rajasthan, Central University of Kerala, Indira Gandhi National Tribal University of Amarkantak and Manipur University.
Addressing “National Seminar on Yoga”, union HRD minister said that there are plans to scale up this figure to 20 by opening Yoga departments in other universities by next session.
The Minister also said that UGC is considering proposal to include Yogic Science in National Eligibility Test.
Speaking to media today at the first ever Yoga Olympiad for all government schools ahead of the International Yoga Day, Ms Irani said the decision has been taken on the basis of recommendations of a UGC committee, which was set up to explore the feasibility of Yoga studies in higher education institutions.
She said, last year during the International Yoga Day, HRD Ministry had not only organized a competition for school children through NCERT, but also proposed introducing Yoga in B.Ed and M.Ed curriculum. This year, in a bid to introduce it in higher education, UGC had formed a committee and it has made its recommendations to the government.
The universities where the initiative will be introduced are Central University in Uttarakhand, Central University in Kerala, Central University in Manipur, and Central University in Rajasthan and Central University in Amarkatnak.