Yoga departments in every central university soon: Curriculum by Modi's yoga trainer

Yoga is no more going to be just another vocational programme. The University Grants Commission (UGC) has approved a curriculum that will incorporated into the mainstream education. The curriculum for Yoga has been crafted by a committee appointed by the ministry of HRD and chaired by HR Nagendra, chancellor, Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana, Bengaluru (S-VYASA) who previously PM Modi's Yoga consultant. 

The newly designed curriculum not only includes the courses for students, but also certification programmes for teachers.

"We have been working on designing the curriculum for the last two years. Academicians including vice chancellors, yoga practitioners from educational institutions have crafted curriculum, which was submitted to MHRD," says Nagendra.

Based on these recommendations, five courses - BSc, MSc, PhD and PG diploma in yoga and PG diploma in Yoga Therapy have been approved by the UGC. The MHRD has asked UGC to promote these courses across universities. In the first phase, six universities have been selected to introduce the course and also set up separate Yoga department.

The government's mandate includes having Yoga department in each central university and in the first phase, six universities have been selected.Universities such as Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University, Uttrakhand, Visva Bharti Shantiniketan, West Bengal, Central University of Rajastan, Central University of Kerala, Indira Gandhi National Tribal University, Madhya Pradesh and Manipur University will be the first to set up Yoga department.

Special certificate courses have been introduced to train the teachers. "Those who do not have formal training in yoga will have to apply for certification provided by Ministry of AYUSH. The teachers will have to pass an exam that will test their theoretical and practical knowledge along with teaching abilities," adds Nagendra.

Subramaniya Pairoo, HOD, academic coordinator, department of Yoga, Central University of Kerala said, "We started the department in February this year with PG diploma in yoga after receiving a grant worth Rs 10 crore from the MHRD. From this academic year, we introduced the MSc programme and are planning to introduce PhD course from next year onwards."

Pairoo informed that the course has received a good response and all the seats have been filled for both MSc and PG diploma courses. "After completing PG diploma courses, students can work as a trainer in schools, while after MSc they have options to work in hospitals, therapy centers etc. There is also a huge demand of Yoga trainers and therapists abroad," he said.