After Prime Minister Narendra Modi got the United Nations to declare June 21 as International Yoga Day, Karnataka is taking measures to popularise yoga in the state. The State Higher Education Council has set up a five-member committee on yoga. The body has recommended that yoga be made a mandatory subject in all undergraduate courses across the state. The committee has also suggested that the subject must not measure the academic performance of students or have a bearing on their marks.
The committee was of the view that yoga will provide a lot of job opportunities in the future.
It may be mentioned that Celebrating International Yoga Day on June 21 in schools is not mandatory in Karnataka. However, the Department of Higher Education in the State has issued a circular directing all colleges and universities to celebrate Yoga Day. Unlike CBSE directive to schools, the State Government would not issue a circular or directive to schools or pre-university colleges to celebrate International Day of Yoga on June 21, following a declaration by the United Nations.
