Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Ayush Prataprao Jadhav on Friday inaugurated Yoga Mahotsav 2026 in New Delhi, marking the 100-day countdown to the 12th edition of the International Day of Yoga (IDY) 2026.
During the event, the minister launched 10 Yoga Protocols for Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) and Target Groups, designed to support people across various age groups and health conditions.
Speaking at the event, Jadhav said the International Day of Yoga has grown into a global movement over the past decade. “Yoga has evolved into a global celebration of wellness. It is a powerful discipline that promotes mental clarity, physical health and emotional balance,” he said.
New initiatives to promote daily yoga practice
The minister also launched a “Yoga for Air Travel” protocol, a five-minute routine consisting of seated yogic practices, breathing exercises and brief meditation aimed at reducing travel-related stress and discomfort during flights.
As part of the lead-up to IDY 2026, the Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga (MDNIY) signed a memorandum of understanding with the wellness platform Habuild under the Yoga 365 campaign.
The initiative will provide free daily online yoga sessions, encouraging individuals to incorporate yoga into their daily routine throughout the year.
“Yoga 365 aims to help people adopt yoga as a daily habit and deepen their engagement with the practice,” Jadhav said.
Digital tools and growing global participation
AYUSH Secretary Rajesh Kotecha highlighted several digital initiatives to expand access to yoga, including an AI-based tool developed through the Ayush Grid to guide practitioners in correcting their postures while performing yogasanas.
He noted that yoga’s popularity continues to grow globally, adding that more than 26 crore people participated in IDY 2025.
Knowledge sessions and demonstrations
The day-long event began with a live demonstration of the Common Yoga Protocol at the MDNIY campus, attended by over 1,000 yoga enthusiasts.
Yoga Mahotsav 2026 also featured three technical sessions focusing on Yoga for the geriatric population, yoga entrepreneurship, and the role of artificial intelligence in yoga. The sessions brought together experts from yoga, medicine and scientific research to discuss the therapeutic potential of the practice.
Around 1,500 participants, including yoga masters, scholars, policymakers and practitioners, attended the event.
The Ayush Ministry said Yoga Mahotsav 2026 marks the beginning of a nationwide and global series of programmes leading up to the 12th International Day of Yoga, reaffirming India’s commitment to promoting holistic health and well-being worldwide.
