New Delhi

Six central universities – one each in the north, south, east, west, central and northeast – are likely to start a department of yoga from the forthcoming academic session.

According to a report submitted by a HRD-appointed panel on setting up yoga departments in universities, the government should in the first phase begin from six varsities.

These are Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University in Uttarakhand, Visva Bharati in Shantiniketan, Central University of Kerala, Indira Gandhi National Tribal University in Amarkantak, Manipur University in Imphal and, either the Central University of Rajasthan in Ajmer or Central University of Gujarat in Gandhinagar.

The panel, headed by H R Nagendra who is also regarded as Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s yoga guru, had recommended six kind of courses ranging from certificate courses to Bachelor’s, Masters and PhDs.

The committee had also recommended that expertise of Ramdev’s Patanjali Yogpeeth, S-VYASA Yoga University headed by Nagendra and some other institutes could be used for setting up of these departments.

The panel had also recommended a grant of Rs 10 crore to each university over five years for setting up of these departments.

PTI