Yoga to be introduced as subject in govt run schools: Irani

Yoga will be introduced as a subject from class VI to X in all central government run schools and 80 out of 100 marks will be reserved for practicals during which students have to perform various asanas, HRD Minister Smriti Irani announced today.

"Yoga will be taught in upper primary and secondary (Class VI to X). We have decided that 80 per cent will be for practicals. I want an assurance from students that they will perform the practicals with full devotion," she said at a function here but did not specify from when it will be introduced.

The remaining 20 per cent will be for theory, she said, adding there will be no additional burden on the students.

Yoga will be introduced to students from Class VI to X in all Kendriya Vidyalayas and Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas across the country.

Officials said the ministry is considering whether the subject can be introduced in schools from this academic session itself. Some of the books on yoga, prepared by NCERT, are still under print, they said.

"Our aim behind this (bringing yoga as a subject) is that our children go to school happily. Therefore, our aim is to give a push to physical activities in schools," the minister said while seeking to assuage fears of another examination for students already under pressure with subjects like Maths, Science, Commerce and Humanities.

A national-level competition on yoga would be organised here next year where the best performing student will be given a cash prize of Rs five lakh, Irani said.

Releasing the syllabus and course material for the students a day after the International Yoga Day celebrations, the Minister said the states were free to decide on adopting the syllabus in their schools and to link with their the course curriculum.