Page 12 - NIS English 16-30 June, 2026

COVER STORY | International Day of Yoga

Indeed, while health insurance is rarely available for
free, yoga stands as the sole guarantee of good health
that offers such assurance at zero cost. Consequently,
Prime Minister Narendra Modi states: “In this century, we
are witnessing how yoga has united the world. Just as yoga
harmonizes the body, mind, intellect, and soul, so too it is
uniting the world today. Everyone aspires to lead a stress-
free, disease-free, and joyful life; if there is a single path
through which all these aspirations can be realized, that
path is yoga. If one wishes to discover how to lead a truly
holistic and balanced life—and to experience that inner
journey toward wellness of body, mind, thought, and
conduct—it is through yoga that this becomes possible.”
Yoga is not merely a form of physical exercise; rather,
it embodies a quest to discover a sense of oneness—with
oneself, with the world, and with nature. Within just four
months of assuming office as Prime Minister, on Sep-
tember 27, 2014, PM Modi took the initiative to elevate
yoga to a global platform; this initiative was subsequently
endorsed by the United Nations General Assembly in
December 2014, leading to the recognition of June 21st as
the International Day of Yoga.

YOGA BECOMES A GLOBAL CELEBRATION
योोगःः कर्ममसुु कौशलम्।।—Meaning: excellence in Yoga. This
mantra teaches us that through Yoga, one cultivates the
capacity to become more capable in life. If we perform
our duties with discipline and fulfill our responsibilities, When we adopt the path of Yoga
that, too, constitutes a form of Yoga. Embodying this very driven by the spirit of Karma Yoga
mantra, India has established Yoga as a "soft power" by our strength, whether as individuals,
securing international recognition for it; furthermore, by as a society, or as a nation, multiplies
linking Yoga with Karma Yoga, it has manifold increased manifold. Today, we must resolve
the developmental potential of the individual, society, with this very spirit: that we will make
and the nation. every possible effort to safeguard
While holding the presidency of the G-20—the world's
most influential bloc—India strengthened the identity of our own health and the health of our
Indian civilization by making Yoga a distinct and integral loved ones. As vigilant citizens, we
part of every G-20 event. In 2014, by establishing a dedi- will move forward together united as
cated Ministry of AYUSH, India initiated the integration of families and as a society.
Yoga—alongside Ayurveda and other traditional systems
of medicine—into its healthcare services. It is due to Narendra Modi, Prime Minister
these efforts by India that the world began observing the
International Day of Yoga from June 21, 2015. The result the power inherent in it. Today, Yoga is evolving into a
of these endeavors is that Yoga—India's most ancient shared foundation for global cooperation. Today, Yoga
and rich tradition—has emerged as a potent tool for offers the promise of a disease-free life to all of humanity.
disease prevention, and the world has come to realize Yoga—which just a few years ago was confined to homes

10 NEW INDIA SAMACHAR || June 16-30, 2026