Committee on yoga education in universities formed: Government

NEW DELHI: Human Resource Development Ministry has formed a committee on yoga education in universities which will identify courses in yogic arts and science and determine eligibility criteria for students to join such programmes, Rajya Sabha was informed today.

"As informed by the Ministry of Human Resource Development, a committee on yoga education in universities has been constituted with the following terms of reference - to identify the courses and programmes in yogic arts and science and the levels at which they can be offered.

"To spell out the scope of programmes offered at certificate, diploma, degree, post-graduate degree/post- graduate diploma and research levels and to develop broad details of the curriculum in the core and elective courses," Minister of State for AYUSH Shripad Yesso Naik said.

The committee will also determine the eligibility criteria for students for joining yoga education programmes at different levels and will prescribe the qualifications of the yoga faculty in colleges and universities.

It will also examine whether the existing qualifications for recruitment of the faculty in the colleges and varsities approved by the University Grants Commission needed to be amended.

Naik said the committee will also identify universities where departments of yoga exist and consider whether they can be upgraded to be developed as Departments of Yogic Arts and Science.

The committee will also suggest the names of national- level yoga centres whose expertise can be networked with universities where Departments of Yogic Arts and Science will be established.

The committee will also determine the modalities of further training of persons who may be recruited with their present background in the field of yoga, Naik said.