New Delhi: June 22: First Yoga Olympiad at National level was held (18-19th June, 2016) in which 21 States/UTs participated, Hon’ble Human Resource Development Minister Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani gave away prizes to winners on June 20th, 2016 in the presence of Union Minister of AYUSH, Shri Shripad Yesso Naik. State/UT teams were divided into four categories viz., Upper Primary Girls, Upper Primary Boys, Secondary Girls and Secondary Boys. A total of 321 students along with their 79 teachers from 21 states/UTs participated in the Yoga Olympiad Performance.
The Central Government has for the first time given a decisive push to promotion of Yoga in Universities. A committee for promotion of Yoga in Universities was setup by the Government under the chairpersonship of Prof. H.R. Nagendra, Chancellor, Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anushandhana Samasthanam. As outcome of the receipt of the report the Government will ask the UGC to promote BSc(Yoga), MSc(Yoga) and PhD(Yoga) courses through Yoga Department in Universities in the country.
The UGC will also consider starting NET in Yogic Sciences during 2016-17 Six Central Universities viz. North: Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University, Uttarakhand; East: Visva Bharati, West Bengal; West: Central University of Rajasthan; South: Central University of Kerala; Central: The Indira Gandhi National Tribal University, Amarkantak, Madya Pradesh; & North East: Manipur University have been identified for Yoga department revamping/establishment.
