Six Central Universities will have full fledged Yoga departments from academic session 2016-17 and the number would be raised to 20 within one year. These six universities are Hemwati Nandan Bahugana Garhwal University, Uttrakhand (North), Viswa Bharti, West Bengal (East), Central University of Rajasthan (West), Central University of Kerala (South), Indira Gandhi National Tribal University, Amarkantak, Madya Pradesh,(Central) and Manipur University (North East). This was stated by Smt Smriti Zubin Irani, Union Minister of Human Resource Development addressing a National Seminar on Yoga here today. Mrs Irani said the action is in line with recommendations of a panel headed by Prof H R Nagendra, that had suggested various kind of courses ranging from certificate courses to Bachelor’s, Masters and PhDs for yogic sciences.
Smt. Irani said that academicians should come forward to establish scientific importance of Yogic Sciences through empirical evidences as has been done by IIT Khargpur recently. She appreciated efforts of AICTE for holding workshops on Yoga in various cities across the country and IGNOU’s active participation in yoga programmes through its fifty regional centers. She said that IIM Ahmadabad, IITs, and NITs are also organizing various activities to promote Yoga as way of life.
Union HRD Minister said that in view of significant role of Yoga to develop all faculties of life, the HRD ministry has taken steps to popularize yoga from school to University level. NCTE has been requested to work for capacity building among teachers for this purpose. She said that UGC has been asked to consider starting NET in Yogic Sciences.
The seminar was also addressed by Shri Vinay Sheel Oberoi, Secretary Higher Education and Prof Ved Prakash, Chairman UGC. It was attended by Vice-Chancellors of Central Universities, representatives and academicians from institutes of higher learning. Prof. Nagendra, Chancellor of Swamy Vivekanand Yoga Anusandhana Samsthanam made a presentation on the occasion highlighting Yoga as integral part of life which develops physical, mental, emotional and intellectual faculties of a human being.