Dehradun: President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the 11th International Yoga Day in Dehradun, describing yoga as the core of India’s consciousness and heritage, and also as a strong example of India’s soft power. The President said that yoga connects one individual to another, one community to another, and one country to another. People around the world are benefiting from it.
She stated that when an individual is healthy, the family stays healthy; and when the family is healthy, the nation stays healthy. She inspired everyone to adopt yoga as a way of life and appealed to all institutions to make yoga accessible to the public. Yoga is a part of India’s ancient cultural and spiritual tradition, which has worked to unite the entire world.
Lieutenant General Gurmit Singh (Retd.), the Governor, extended his wishes to the people of the state on the occasion of the 11th International Yoga Day and highlighted the importance of yoga. He said that yoga is a part of India’s oldest cultural and spiritual traditions that has united the entire world. He expressed happiness that this day has become a symbol of health, peace, and harmony not just for India but for the whole world.
The Governor said that yoga is not merely a physical exercise but a process of balancing the body, mind, and soul. It is a path of self-discipline, restraint, and mental peace. He emphasized that due to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s efforts, yoga has now become a global movement, and it is a matter of pride for all Indians that the world is accepting and benefiting from this legacy of India.
He mentioned that this year’s International Yoga Day theme, “Yoga for One Earth, One Health,” reflects India’s eternal philosophy of *“Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam”* — the world is one family. It reminds us that our personal health, nature, environment, and social structures are all deeply interconnected.
The Governor noted that practicing yoga in a spiritual and natural land like Uttarakhand holds special significance. On this occasion, he urged the youth to make yoga a part of their daily lives and contribute to building a healthy India.
On this occasion, Uttarakhand Cabinet Minister Subodh Uniyal highlighted the features and goals of India’s first Yoga Policy–2025, prepared under the inspiration of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. This policy aims to make Uttarakhand India’s first yoga entrepreneurship and research hub. It includes:
* Capital grants of up to ₹20 lakh for the establishment of yoga and meditation centers.
* Research grants of up to ₹10 lakh for yoga-related research projects.
* Provisions for promoting yoga in existing institutions through research support and remuneration reimbursement.
* Priority to certifications obtained through the Yoga Certification Board for yoga teachers.
* Establishment of a Directorate of Yoga included in the action plan.
The Cabinet Minister stated the goals of the Yoga Policy 2025, including:
* Establishment of at least five new yoga hubs in Uttarakhand by 2030.
* Availability of yoga services in all AYUSH health and wellness centers in the state by March 2026.
* Launch of community-based mindfulness programs tailored to various age groups, genders, and social segments.
* Ensuring 100% registration of yoga institutions.
* Development of a dedicated online yoga platform.
* Partnerships with 15 to 20 national and international institutions by March 2028.
He expressed hope that this visionary policy will serve as a bridge connecting the state’s traditional knowledge, spiritual energy, and cultural heritage with contemporary opportunities.
