Chandigarh, Jun 21 : Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Sunday announced that yoga will be included in the curricula of classes 3-9 from the next academic session, and it will also be a mandatory component of the state government recruitment examinations. He further said yogasanas will be included as a sports discipline in the state government's policy. Saini was addressing a state-level event in Panchkula on the occasion of International Day of Yoga. The event assumed a unique dimension with the enthusiastic participation of a number of youth from 16 countries currently pursuing studies and employment opportunities in Haryana.

"Yoga will be included in the curriculum for all classes from class 3 to 9 in the upcoming academic session," Saini said, adding that this will foster physical, mental and emotional development of the students. He said yoga has already been included in the class 8 curriculum for the current academic session. "Questions related to yoga will be made a mandatory component of all examinations conducted by the Haryana Staff Selection Commission and the Haryana Public Service Commission. For this, necessary amendments will be made in the examination policy," Saini announced.

The chief minister further urged people to make yoga an integral part of their daily lives. On the occasion, he performed various yoga asanas and pranayama exercises at the event, along with hundreds of participants. Addressing the gathering, Saini said that to regularly promote yoga and yoga education in all schools across the state, special training will be provided to all physical training Instructors and other teachers. This initiative will ensure that students in every school are able to practice yoga regularly under trained guidance.

A state-level institute dedicated to naturopathy and yoga will be established at Morni in Panchkula district where undergraduate-level courses in these disciplines will be offered, he said. Yoga will be included as a key component in the five 'Centres of Excellence' currently being set up at various universities across the state as well thereby strengthening yoga education, training, research, and innovation within the higher education system, the chief minister said. To institutionalise the promotion of yoga, the chief minister announced that the Sports Departments of all higher education institutions in Haryana will be renamed as "Departments of Sports and Yoga," ensuring yoga receives due recognition and a prominent place within academic institutions.

He further stated that yogasana will be included as a sports discipline under the state's sports policy, and the necessary amendments to the policy will be made to facilitate its implementation. Saini announced that elements of the Ayurveda curriculum would be integrated into the yoga curriculum to promote a holistic approach to health and wellness. He further stated that appointments to the previously sanctioned vacant posts of AYUSH yoga coaches and yoga instructors would be made at the earliest. Saini also announced that the Haryana state song would be sun during morning assemblies in all state government schools. This initiative aims to instill a sense of pride in the state, discipline, national consciousness, and cultural values among students.

He emphasised that these initiatives would help establish yoga not merely as a form of physical exercise, but as a scientific, time-tested way of life that contributes to the overall well-being of individuals and society. Addressing the gathering in Panchkula during the mass yoga sessino, Saini said yoga is an invaluable knowledge from India's ancient cultural heritage that has shown the entire world the path to a healthy life and inner balance. Haryana Health and AYUSH Minister Arti Singh Rao was also present on the occasion.

Saini said that under the visionary leadership and inspiration of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, International Yoga Day has evolved into a global mass movement. The CM said the world has truly evolved into a global village, and in such times, yoga has emerged as a powerful force for uniting humanity. The state-level IDY celebration in Panchkula witnessed participation of hundreds of young people from 16 countries - Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Eswatini, Gambia, Iraq, Ivory Coast, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, South Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zimbabwe-who are studying and working in Haryana.

He said that their presence reflected the timeless Indian philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam and demonstrated yoga's unique ability to bring people together beyond geographical boundaries, languages, and cultures. Saini said it is a matter of immense pride that the world celebrates this priceless heritage of India. Yoga plays a crucial role in helping individuals remain healthy, active, self-reliant, and mentally resilient throughout their lives, thereby contributing to a better quality of life in old age, he said. 

/Agencies