The Centre has decided to introduce International Yoga Award Scheme with a view to promote yoga.<br/><br/>The AYUSH Ministry today said, it is working on the scheme and it will start giving the award from 2017. <br/><br/>Inaugurating the National Health Editors' Conference in New Delhi, Minister of State for AYUSH, Shripad Yesso Naik pitched for adoption of yoga due to its large benefits in terms of health aspects and others. <br/><br/>He said, Yoga has become popular worldwide as people practice Yoga in some form or the other for spiritual or health purposes and to overcome stress. <br/><br/>Mr Naik also dismissed the controversy related to chanting of Om during the International Day of Yoga, last year and said it was not made mandatory. <br/><br/>The theme of the conference was Yoga for Holistic Health – Recent Researches.<br/><br/>The conference had been organised by Ministry of AYUSH in association with Press Information Bureau and is a part of the series of planned events leading to the International Day of Yoga – 2016.

The Centre has decided to introduce International Yoga Award Scheme with a view to promote yoga. The AYUSH Ministry today said, it is working on the scheme and will start giving the award from 2017. Inaugurating the National Health Editors' Conference in New Delhi, Minister of State for AYUSH, Shripad Yesso Naik pitched for adopting yoga in the life due to its large benefits in terms of health aspects and others. <br/><br/>AIR correspondent reports that the theme of the conference is Yoga for Holistic Health – Recent Researches. The conference aimed at ensuring wider dissemination of benefits of Yoga to the public through the the media.The conference has been organised by Ministry of AYUSH in association with Press Information Bureau and is a part of the series of planned events leading to the International Day of Yoga – 2016 which will be celebrated on 21st of June.The main event will be held at Chandigarh where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will participate.