UGC asks universities across India to celebrate International Day of Yoga

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has asked universities and colleges across India to observe the International Yoga day on June 21. The UGC has requested that the universities and colleges affiliated to those universities celebrate the first International Day of Yoga by screening promotional films, and that other Information, Education and Communication (IEC) material on yoga is also distributed amongst the faculty and students.

The International Day of Yoga was adopted by the United Nations in 2014. The idea of declaring June 21 as International Yoga day was proposed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his first address to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on September 27, 2015. The 69th session of UNGA accepted this proposal and adopted the International Day of Yoga in December 2014.

It was the first time in UN's history that such a recommendation was made and implemented by a country in a UN body in less than 90 days. This draft resolution was also supported by a record 175 member nations, including all five permanent members of the UN Security Council.

In its communication to higher education institutions, the UGC has stated that, "The Government of India has decided to give practical effect to the resolution by ensuring that the First International Day of Yoga is commemorated in a befitting manner on June 21, 2015."

The notice, published on April 17 and signed by the UGC Secretary Jaspal S. Sandhu is available on the UGC official website as well.