Shri Prataprao Jadhav, Union Minister of State (IC), Ministry of Ayush and Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, chaired the fourth meeting of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee of the Ministry of Ayush in New Delhi. The meeting focused on “Yoga and Naturopathy in India” and deliberated on the Government’s initiatives to strengthen preventive healthcare, wellness promotion and the global outreach of India’s traditional systems of healthcare.

Welcoming the members of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee, Union Minister Shri Prataprao Jadhav said that Yoga and Naturopathy are India’s timeless contributions to holistic and preventive healthcare and are now emerging as important pillars of the global wellness movement. He noted that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the Ministry of Ayush has prioritised these systems as effective approaches for preventive, promotive, and lifestyle-based healthcare across the country.

Referring to the declaration of 21 June as the International Day of Yoga by the United Nations General Assembly in 2014, the Minister described it as a historic achievement for India’s cultural diplomacy and global leadership. He noted that the International Day of Yoga is now celebrated in more than 190 countries, connecting millions of people worldwide with Yoga and strengthening awareness about holistic health and well-being.

Shri Jadhav stated that Yoga and Naturopathy are increasingly being recognised as effective complementary approaches for managing non-communicable diseases, stress, and mental health disorders, thereby supporting preventive and integrative healthcare. Highlighting the sector’s growth, he informed the Committee that more than 70 BNYS colleges and over 5,000 Yoga training institutes are currently functioning across the country.

The Minister further highlighted that the Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga has trained over six lakh Yoga volunteers, while more than seven lakh Yoga professionals and volunteers have been certified under the Yoga Certification Board framework. Reaffirming the Government’s commitment, he said that Yoga and Naturopathy are contributing significantly to India’s wellness economy, employment generation, wellness tourism, and global cultural outreach.

Members of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee actively participated in the deliberations and shared valuable suggestions and insights during the meeting. Among the members present were Swami S. Hari Sakshi, Shri Laxmikant Bajpayee, Smt Dharmshila Gupta, Shri Parshottambhai Rupala, Shri Nilesh D. Lanke, Smt Renuka Chowdhury, and Shri Ashtikar Patil N. Bapurao.

Ms Monalisa Dash, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Ayush, delivered a detailed presentation on the current status, institutional framework, educational infrastructure, research initiatives, global outreach and emerging opportunities in the Yoga and Naturopathy sectors in India.

Joint Secretary, Ministry of Ayush, Ms Alarmelmangai D., Joint Secretary, Ministry of Ayush, Smt Kavita Jain, along with Members of Parliament and other senior officials of the Ministry of Ayush, were also present during the meeting.

The meeting concluded with members reaffirming their support for further strengthening Yoga and Naturopathy as globally recognised systems for wellness and preventive healthcare

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