On the occasion of the 12th International Yoga Day 2026, Haryana Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh Saini made several significant announcements during the state-level Yoga Day celebration held in Panchkula. The initiatives are aimed at transforming yoga into a mass movement and encouraging healthy, balanced lifestyles among students and youth.
The Chief Minister announced that yoga education will be introduced in the curriculum for students of Classes III to IX from the upcoming academic session. This initiative is expected to contribute to the physical, mental, and emotional development of students while instilling healthy habits from an early age.
The Chief Minister further announced that, to promote yoga and yoga education on a sustained basis across schools in the state, specialized training in yoga asanas will be imparted to all PTIs, D.P.Ed. teachers, PGTs, and designated PRTs. This initiative will ensure that students in every school are able to practice yoga regularly under trained guidance.
He also announced that questions related to yoga will be made a mandatory component of all examinations conducted by the Haryana Staff Selection Commission (HSSC) and the Haryana Public Service Commission (HPSC). Necessary amendments to the examination policy will be introduced to implement this provision.
In another major announcement, the Chief Minister said that a state-level Institute of Naturopathy and Yoga will be established in Morni, where undergraduate-level courses in these disciplines will be offered. He further stated that yoga will be incorporated as a key component in the five Centres of Excellence being established across various universities in the state, thereby strengthening yoga education, training, research, and innovation within the higher education system.
To institutionalize the promotion of yoga, the Chief Minister announced that the Sports Departments of all higher education institutions in Haryana will be renamed as “Departments of Sports and Yoga,” ensuring yoga receives due recognition and a prominent place within academic institutions. He further stated that Yogasana will be included as a sports discipline under the state's sports policy, and the necessary amendments to the policy will be made to facilitate its implementation.
Sh Nayab Singh Saini announced that elements of the Ayurveda curriculum would be integrated into the yoga curriculum to promote a holistic approach to health and wellness. He further stated that appointments to the previously sanctioned vacant posts of AYUSH Yoga Coaches and Yoga Instructors would be made at the earliest.
The Chief Minister also announced that the collective singing of the state song during morning assemblies in all government schools across Haryana would be ensured. This initiative aims to instill a sense of pride in the state, discipline, national consciousness, and cultural values among students. He emphasized that these initiatives would help establish yoga not merely as a form of physical exercise, but as a scientific, time-tested way of life that contributes to the overall well-being of individuals and society.
Dignitaries present on the occasion included Haryana Health and AYUSH Minister Kumari Arti Singh Rao, former Speaker of the Haryana Legislative Assembly Sh Gian Chand Gupta, District President Sh Ajay Mittal, State Vice President Smt. Banto Kataria, Chairman of the Haryana Yog Aayog Dr. Jaideep Arya, Chairman of the Haryana Vimukt Ghumantu Jati Vikas Board Sh Jasmer Singh Banjara, Vice Chairman of the Shivalik Development Board Sh Omprakash Devinagar; Additional Chief Secretary, Health Smt. Sumita Misra, Director General AYUSH Sh Sanjeev Verma; ADGP CID Sh Saurav Singh, Commissioner of Police Sh Pankaj Nain, Deputy Commissioner Sh Satpal Sharma and Political Secretary to Chief Minister Sh Tarun Bhandari among others.