Yoga will now be taught as a compulsory subject not only from class VI to X in Central government run schools but also as a training module in teacher education programmes.
Besides, a national-level yoga competition will be organised here next year, where the best performing student will be given a cash prize of ₹5 lakh, HRD Minister Smriti Irani said on Monday.
Releasing the syllabus and course material, she said the subject will not put any additional burden on students as 80 marks would be reserved for practicals. “However, I want an assurance from students that they will perform the practicals with full devotion,” she said at a function here today, a day after the Yoga Day celebration which saw the participation of hundreds of school students and teachers. Later talking to reporters, she said the States are free to decide on adopting it in their syllabus and to link with their course curriculum.