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On June 21, 2026, the world is observing the 12th International Day of Yoga. This year’s theme, ‘Yoga for Healthy Ageing,’ reflects not merely the message of an annual campaign but a global response to changing demographic trends, rising life expectancy, and the growing need for healthy, active, and dignified ageing.
It is particularly significant that the 12th International Day of Yoga is being observed at a time when India, under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, is marking 12 years of governance focused on development, public service, and welfare. More than a coincidence, this convergence symbolizes the transformative vision that elevated India’s ancient tradition of yoga into a global mass movement.
A Celebration From Kolkata to the World
This year, the main national celebration is being held on the historic Red Road in Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal, where Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi is leading the yoga session alongside thousands of participants. The event is expected to set a new Guinness World Record through unprecedented public participation. Special yoga sessions are also being organized at 12 iconic locations across the country, including the Red Fort in Delhi, the Gateway of India in Mumbai, Har Ki Pauri in Haridwar, and the Sabarmati Riverfront in Ahmedabad.
At the same time, International Day of Yoga is being celebrated at approximately 2,500 locations worldwide—from the United Nations Headquarters in New York and Times Square to venues across Asia, Europe, Africa, Australia, and Latin America—with the support of Indian embassies, community organizations, and yoga institutions. This global participation reflects how yoga has evolved beyond its origins in India to become a shared cultural and wellness movement for all humanity.
PM Modi: The Visionary Who Gave Yoga Global Recognition
First and foremost, I express my heartfelt gratitude to Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for elevating India’s ancient tradition of yoga to the global stage and transforming it into a powerful medium for global health and well-being. While addressing the 69th session of the United Nations General Assembly on September 27, 2014, Prime Minister Shri Modi stated: “Yoga is an invaluable gift from our ancient tradition. Yoga embodies unity of mind and body, thought and action.”
This historic appeal received unprecedented international support. Within just over two months, the United Nations General Assembly declared June 21 as the International Day of Yoga, with the backing of a record 177 member states. At the time, it was the fastest-adopted resolution of its kind and received one of the highest levels of support in the history of the United Nations. The first International Day of Yoga was observed on June 21, 2015. Since then, yoga has continued to grow into a global movement that promotes health, harmony, and unity across cultures and nations. Today, the observance of the International Day of Yoga in more than 180 countries stands as a testament to India’s cultural diplomacy, soft power, and the global impact of Prime Minister Modi’s initiative.
India’s Greatest Civilizational Contribution
The word Yoga is derived from the Sanskrit root Yuj, meaning “to connect,” “to unite,” or “to establish harmony.” Yoga is the science of integrating the body, mind, intellect, and soul. It is not merely a form of physical exercise but a holistic way of life. Defining yoga, Maharishi Patanjali states: “योगश्चित्तवृत्तिनिरोधः”—the restraint of the fluctuations of the mind. In other words, yoga is the discipline of mastering the mind, cultivating balance in thought, and attaining inner stability. In the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Shri Krishna presents yoga as a philosophy of life: “योगः कर्मसु कौशलम्”—meaning that yoga is the pursuit of excellence and equanimity in action. Similarly, the Bhagavad Gita says: “समत्वं योग उच्यते”—meaning that yoga is a state of equanimity, enabling one to remain balanced in happiness and sorrow, gain and loss, and success and failure.
This timeless wisdom is why yoga continues to offer a path to balance, inner peace, and self-realization in an increasingly stressed, divided, and rapidly changing world.
Yoga and AYUSH: A Renaissance of India’s Knowledge Tradition
Under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the Department of AYUSH was elevated to the status of a full-fledged ministry on November 9, 2014. This decision marked a historic step toward revitalizing India’s traditional systems of medicine and wellness, including Yoga, Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, Sowa-Rigpa, and Homoeopathy. Today, the AYUSH sector serves as an important pillar of healthcare for millions of people. The establishment of the WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine in Jamnagar, Gujarat, represents a significant milestone in securing global recognition for India’s traditional medical systems. Initiatives such as Heal in India, the AYUSH Visa, medical value tourism, and a growing emphasis on preventive healthcare are strengthening India’s position as a leading global wellness destination.
Viksit Bharat @2047 and the Role of Yoga
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has set the goal of transforming India into a developed nation by 2047. This vision extends beyond economic progress; it represents a commitment to building a healthy, capable, self-confident, and productive society.
Healthy citizens are the true strength of a developed nation. In this context, Yoga and Ayurveda play a vital role in realizing the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047. Yoga not only helps prevent disease but also promotes mental well-being, enhances work efficiency and productivity, and improves overall quality of life. As such, it serves as a powerful instrument for strengthening the human capital that will drive India’s journey toward becoming a developed nation.
Why Is “Yoga for Healthy Ageing” Important?
This year’s theme, “Yoga for Healthy Ageing,” addresses one of the most pressing global challenges of our time. According to the World Health Organization, the global elderly population is expected to grow rapidly in the coming decades. In this context, extending life expectancy alone is not enough; ensuring that people lead healthy, active, independent, and dignified lives in old age is equally important.
Yoga contributes significantly to healthy ageing by:
–Enhancing physical balance and flexibility;
–Strengthening bones and muscles;
–Improving cardiovascular health, including blood pressure regulation;
–Reducing stress, anxiety, and depression;
–Supporting memory, cognitive function, and mental concentration; and
–Promoting independence while improving overall quality of life in later years.
In this context, Union Minister of State for Ayush Shri Prataprao Jadhav has emphasized that, in an era of rising life expectancy, learning the art of healthy and dignified ageing has become essential, and yoga is among the most effective means of achieving this objective.
12 Years of International Day of Yoga
The year 2026 marks a historic convergence. On one hand, under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, India is commemorating 12 years of governance focused on development, good governance, healthcare, digital transformation, self-reliance, and enhanced global standing. On the other hand, the International Day of Yoga has entered its 12th year. The underlying spirit of both journeys is the same: connecting India’s ancient wisdom with the well-being of the modern world. Just as India has strengthened its global stature over the past 12 years, yoga has reached millions of people across the world, emerging as a symbol of health, harmony, and holistic well-being. Together, these 12 years represent not merely the success of an initiative but a significant chapter in the global recognition of India’s cultural heritage, civilizational legacy, and enduring contribution to humanity.
Not Just for a Day, but a Way of Life
Today, there is a need to ensure that yoga is not confined to June 21 alone. It should become an integral part of our daily lives, with every family encouraging its practice—especially among the elderly, youth, and children. Yoga can serve as the foundation of a healthy family, a healthy society, and a healthy nation. Let us all resolve to make yoga not merely an annual celebration, but a way of life. As the Bhagavad Gita reminds us: “योगः कर्मसु कौशलम्”—meaning that yoga is excellence in action. By embracing yoga as a lifelong discipline, we can strengthen ourselves, enrich our communities, and contribute to building a healthier, more capable, and more prosperous nation.
In conclusion, let us invoke the timeless Vedic benediction:
ॐ सर्वे भवन्तु सुखिनः।
सर्वे सन्तु निरामयाः।
सर्वे भद्राणि पश्यन्तु।
मा कश्चिद्दुःखभाग्भवेत्॥
That is, may all be happy, may all be free from disease, may all experience well-being, and may no one suffer sorrow.
(The writer is Minister of State for Defence, GOI)