Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary, Ministry of Ayush in an exclusive conversation with team The Pioneer opens up on decade-long impact assessment to highlight Yoga’s contribution to public health, lifestyle improvement and preventive healthcare across communities and age groups ahead of IDY celebrations globally on June 21
Q : How has the International Day of Yoga (IDY) helped people improve their well-being over the years?
A: Since its inception in 2015, the International Day of Yoga has become a powerful public movement for preventive health and holistic well-being. From schools to workplaces and even prisons and rehabilitation centres, Yoga has reached people across ages and health conditions. Studies by reputed institutes have shown that regular yoga practice reduces stress, enhances mental focus and improves immunity. IDY has played a crucial role in making these benefits accessible to the masses-democratising wellness through large-scale public participation and localised Yoga Protocols suited to various needs like senior citizens, children, women and persons with disabilities.
Q: What are the signature events planned under IDY 2025, and how do they reflect India’s leadership in global wellness?
A: This year, 10 signature events are being organised across different themes to highlight how Yoga intersects with wellbeing, science, diplomacy, environment, inclusivity and more.
These include:
Yoga Sangama
A historic synchronised Yoga demonstration across 1,00,000 locations nationwide, celebrating unity in diversity and aiming to set a global participation record.
Yoga Bandhan
India partners with 10 countries to organise Yoga sessions at iconic global landmarks, reinforcing Yoga as a shared symbol of peace and wellness.
Yoga Parks
Support extended to 1,000 parks to be upgraded into Yoga parks, to be developed across the country for year-round public access, fostering community health and regular engagement with Yoga.
Yoga Samavesh
Specially curated Yoga activities for Divyangjan, senior citizens, children and marginalised groups, promoting inclusivity and equitable access to wellness.
Yoga Prabhava
A decade-long impact assessment to highlight Yoga’s contribution to public health, lifestyle improvement, and preventive healthcare across communities and age groups.
Yoga Connect
A Global Virtual Yoga Summit featuring experts, researchers and health professionals, showcasing scientific perspectives and emerging trends in Yoga-based health solutions.
Harit Yoga
A sustainability initiative combining Yoga practice with environmental action-tree plantation, cleanliness drives and messages of harmony with nature.
Yoga Unplugged
A youth-focused celebration blending Yoga with creativity, music and cultural expression to make wellness fun, aspirational and deeply rooted among young people.
Yoga Maha Kumbh
A week-long Yoga festival held across 10 major cities, culminating in a grand celebration led by the Prime Minister on 21st June at Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh
Samyogam
A 100-day convergence campaign to integrate Yoga with conventional healthcare systems, aiming to promote holistic wellness and preventive health for all. Each of these showcases India’s role as a global leader in holistic health, taking Yoga beyond fitness-into spheres of diplomacy, science and social transformation.
Q: As this time, the National Event on 21st June is happening in Vizag, what special arrangements are being made by the state of Andhra Pradesh?
A: The Government of Andhra Pradesh has undertaken a remarkable initiative through the launch of the YogAndhra Abhiyan, a visionary campaign aimed at fostering a strong and sustained culture of yoga across the State. This initiative is uniquely ambitious, with a goal of creating a pool of 10 lakh regular yoga practitioners. It reflects a deep commitment to preventive healthcare and holistic well-being.
What stands out is the scale and seriousness with which Andhra Pradesh has aligned itself with the national movement for wellness. Through YogAndhra, the state is not only promoting mass awareness and participation in the International Day of Yoga but is also institutionalising yoga into everyday life. This is a commendable example of how a State can lead from the front and contribute meaningfully to the wider vision of Yoga for One Earth, One Health.
We deeply appreciate Andhra Pradesh’s proactive role and look forward to the upcoming IDY celebrations in Visakhapatnam, which I am sure will set new benchmarks in public engagement and outreach.”
Q: How has IDY helped in strengthening India’s soft power on the global stage?
A: The celebration of IDY in over 190 countries annually, often led by Indian Missions abroad, has established Yoga as India’s most recognisable cultural and spiritual export. From the UN headquarters in New York to the icy terrains of Antarctica, Yoga is practised globally on June 21. This global adoption is a testimony to India’s civilisational wisdom resonating with modern wellness needs.
In fact, the past decade of IDY has transformed Yoga into a shared global heritage-strengthening India’s identity as a Vishwa Guru (global teacher) in holistic living.
Q: What is special for citizens and yoga enthusiasts in IDY 2025? How can they participate this year?
A: IDY 2025 is special as it marks the 11th International Day of Yoga, with a strong emphasis on inclusivity and mass participation. Several citizen-centric initiatives are being rolled out:
Yoga Sangam, the flagship initiative, invites community-led yoga demonstrations at over 1 lakh locations across India, covering RWAs, schools, offices and local bodies.
Yoga Samavesh, a dedicated series under IDY 2025, will highlight customised yoga protocols designed for diverse groups-such as persons with diabetes, asthma, disabilities, senior citizens, transgender individuals, children and more.
Enhanced digital engagement tools, such as the Y-Break App, M-Yoga App and Namaste Yoga App, will support daily practice and increase accessibility for all age groups and professions.
Special IDY Ambassadors, including influential personalities and cultural figures, will amplify the message of yoga across grassroots and digital platforms.
More than 30000 organisations have already registered for “Yoga Sangam” through the dedicated registration portal
Through these efforts, IDY 2025 becomes not just a celebration of one day, but a powerful movement for daily wellness and collective well-being.
Q: How does Yoga and IDY connect people across diverse backgrounds and regions?
A: Yoga has proven to be a unifying force across geographies, languages and belief systems. IDY has played a unique role in building a shared sense of purpose and collective consciousness. Whether it’s fishermen doing Yoga by the sea in Kerala, school children in Leh practising under open skies, or tribal communities in Jharkhand integrating local wellness practices with yoga-as a medium, it fosters connection and compassion.
In IDY 2025, the “Yoga Samavesh” campaign is spotlighting sessions that bring together different communitiesr MM, generations and abilities-proving that in an increasingly fragmented world, Yoga is one of the few practices that unites without imposing, India’s yoga ecosystem is already a billion-dollar industry, with over 5 crore households practicing yoga daily, according to the latest NSSO survey.
Q: What efforts are being made by the Ministry of Ayush in the field of yoga research?
A: The Ministry of Ayush is actively advancing yoga as an evidence-based discipline through strategic research initiatives:
Dedicated Research Centres: To strengthen the scientific foundation of Yoga, the Ministry has established Collaborative Research Centres (CRCs) at premier institutions such as the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Samskriti Foundation and Kaivalyadhama, Lonavala. These centers are dedicated to conducting high-quality yoga research across disciplines.
Intra Mural Research (IMR) Projects: The Ministry supports in-house yoga research in leading academic and healthcare institutions including IIT Mandi, CCRYN, Savitribai Phule Pune University, PGIMER Chandigarh, Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital and Safdarjung Hospital. These projects are contributing to a growing body of scientific evidence on yoga’s therapeutic benefits.
Substantial Financial Support: Demonstrating its commitment, the Ministry has allocated `15.30 crore specifically for Yoga research across educational, research and wellness institutions.
Global Research Collaboration: In collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), the Ministry is working to incorporate traditional medicine, including Yoga, into the International Classification of Health Interventions (ICHI), enabling its recognition in global health systems. A WHO collaborating center (CC) has been established at MDNIY.
Digital Tools and Standardisation: To support research and training, the Ministry has developed multilingual digital resources, such as the Y-Break app and videos that make yoga practices accessible. The Yoga Certification Board (YCB) further ensures quality and consistency in yoga education through internationally recognised certification for professionals and institutions.
Centres of Excellence: CIMR at AIIMS New Delhi, IIT Delhi, IISc Bangalore, CDRI Luckno, JNU etc.
Q: How is the modern technology being leveraged for yoga promotion?
A: To mark the celebration of the 11th International Day of Yoga (IDY), the Yoga Portal has emerged as the central digital hub, bringing together Yoga Sangam-the flagship event of IDY 2025-along with nine other signature events and their related activities. This year’s observance promises to be more global and inclusive than ever before, reflecting yoga’s universal appeal and transformative power.
At the heart of this celebration is Yoga Sangam, scheduled for 21st June 2025, which will witness a synchronised mass yoga demonstration based on the Common Yoga Protocol (CYP) at over one lakh locations across the country-symbolising India’s unified commitment to the ancient science of wellness.
To make yoga an everyday practice for all, a suite of digital tools has been developed to enhance public participation:
Y-Break App: Specially designed for the working population, this app offers short, structured yoga routines that help reduce stress, improve concentration and enhance productivity at the workplace.
M-Yoga App: Ideal for the general public, it provides guided sessions of varying durations to support self-paced yoga learning and regular practice from the comfort of home.
Namaste Yoga App: A comprehensive platform offering easy access to yoga-related content, updates on upcoming events and directories of certified yoga trainers-empowering users to embrace yoga as a part of their daily lifestyle.
Dedicated Yoga portal: For convenient registration for the Yoga Sangam event and a host of other activities and features on yoga
Together, these initiatives reflect the Ministry of Ayush’s unwavering commitment to promoting yoga as a way of life-for holistic health, inner harmony and global well-being. About the recently concluded WHA at Geneva:
Q: What was India’s key message at the 78th World Health Assembly regarding Traditional Medicine?
A: At the 78th World Health Assembly held in Geneva India reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to integrating Traditional Medicine (TM) into national and global healthcare frameworks. India also welcomed the adoption of the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025-2034 and emphasised India’s success in promoting evidence-based practices within traditional systems like Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani and Siddha. India was showcased as a model for other nations in harmoniously integrating traditional and contemporary medicine.
On 23 May 2025, India, together with 31 Member States of the Group of Friends of Traditional Medicine (GFTM), hosted a second official side event, entitled “Traditional Medicine: From Traditional Knowledge to Frontier Science, for Health for All”. The event highlighted India as a role model and success story for the GFTM countries. With over 250 delegates in attendance, the event showcased national experiences and reaffirmed global commitment to traditional medicine.
The Group of Friends of Traditional Medicine (GFTM) was created by India in May 2023. This informal platform allows WHO member States to discuss and support the integration of traditional medicine into health systems
Q: What is the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025-2034, and how is India contributing to it?
A: The WHO Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025-2034 aims to support Member States in integrating traditional medicine into their health systems through regulation, scientific research, and safe practices. India has been a key contributor, having demonstrated strong leadership during the previous strategy (2014-2023). India’s efforts now extend to actively shaping and supporting the new strategy, especially through the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre (GTMC) in Jamnagar. This Centre, established with India’s support, is a global hub for policy research, data analytics, and international collaboration in traditional medicine.
Q: What role does the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre in Jamnagar play?
A: The WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre (GTMC), inaugurated in 2022 by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, is the first of its kind globally. Located in Jamnagar, Gujarat, the Centre plays a pivotal role in strengthening the global TM ecosystem. It focuses on evidence-based policy support, setting international standards, fostering global research partnerships and using data analytics to inform best practices. It also positions India as a leader in the scientific validation and global promotion of traditional healthcare systems.
Q: What is the significance of the recent Donor Agreement between the Ministry of Ayush and WHO?
A: On May 24, 2025, the Ministry of Ayush and WHO signed a landmark Donor Agreement to develop a Traditional Medicine module under the International Classification of Health Interventions (ICHI).
This initiative will create a standardised, scientific framework to document and classify health interventions used in systems like Ayurveda and Unani. As highlighted by Prime Minister Modi in his Mann Ki Baat address, this is a major step toward global recognition, scientific credibility and mainstreaming of Ayush systems internationally.
Q: How does India’s approach align with WHO’s principles for Traditional Medicine?
India’s approach to Traditional Medicine aligns closely with WHO’s vision of safe, inclusive and evidence-based TM practices. The country has emphasised regulation, sustainability, preservation of indigenous knowledge and environmental responsibility. Over the time, the Ministry of Ayush has established a strategic collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO) to globalise and mainstream traditional medicine. A landmark achievement in this partnership is the establishment of the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre in Jamnagar, Gujarat- the first-of-its-kind institution globally dedicated to traditional medicine.
Other key milestones include the successful hosting of the first WHO Traditional Medicine Global Summit in India in August 2023. The Ministry has also signed a Donor Agreement with WHO, facilitated secondments at WHO Headquarters in Geneva and the SEARO office in New Delhi and contributed significantly to the development of the second module of the Traditional Medicine chapter in ICD-11.