The United Nations (UN’s) International Day of Yoga (IDY) is annually observed across the globe on June 21 to promote awareness about the physical and mental health benefits of Yoga, a 5,000-year-old ancient practice that originated in India.
- June 21, 2025, marks the 11th observance of IYD.
- India has been leading the annual celebrations of the IDY since 2015, under the aegis of the Ministry of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy), with active support from State Governments, Indian Missions abroad, and various UN agencies.
Theme:
The theme for IDY 2025, “Yoga for One Earth, One Health”, emphasizes the deep interconnection between individual health and planetary well-being.
Background:
i.The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted Resolution A/RES/69/131 on December 11, 2014, declaring June 21 as IDY.
ii.The proposal to observe the IDY was made by the Prime Minister (PM) of India, Narendra Modi, during the 69th session of the UNGA on September 27, 2014, and was subsequently endorsed by 175 member states.
iii.The first IYD was observed on June 21, 2015.
Note: The date June 21 was chosen as it marks the Summer Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere (the longest day of the year), symbolizing harmony between nature and human wellness across cultures.
About Yoga:
i.Yoga is a holistic discipline that integrates physical postures (asanas), breathing techniques (pranayama), and meditation, aiming to achieve unity of the body, mind, and spirit.
ii.The word “Yoga” originates from the Sanskrit term “Yuj“, meaning “to join” or “to unite”, signifies the unity of mind-body, thought-action, and human-nature balance.
Note: In 2016, Indian Yoga was added to the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), making it the 13th intangible cultural heritage from India to be listed.
IDY Logo:
The logo symbolizes the essence of yoga through folded hands, symbolizing the union of individual and universal consciousness, along with key elements: brown leaves for Earth, green leaves for Nature, blue for Water, brightness for Fire, and the Sun representing the source of energy and inspiration.
2025 Events:
The Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations(UN), in collaboration with the UN Secretariat, organized the International Yoga Day event at the United Nations Headquarters (UNHQ) in New York, the United States of America(USA).
PM Narendra Modi led IYD 2025 celebrations in Visakhapatnam:
On IYD 2025, a national event was led by PM Narendra Modi in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh (AP), where over 3 lakh participants performed the Common Yoga Protocol (CYP) simultaneously with thousands at 100,000+ locations across India, part of the “Yoga Sangam” initiative.
- Guinness World Record attempt by AP Government, with 50 lakh (5 million) yoga certificates awarded to participants.
- 25,000 tribal children at Andhra University (AP) performed 108 Surya Namaskars in 108 minutes.
- On the occasion of IYD 2025, the Indian Army(IA) conducted a yoga session at Siachen, the world’s highest battlefield.
Events at Heritage Sites:
i.National Capital events: 109 yoga sessions across Delhi, including a primary gathering at Red Fort, organized by Mount Abu (Rajasthan) based Brahma Kumaris in collaboration with Ministry of AYUSH, the New Delhi (Delhi) based Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga (MDNIY), and the New Delhi based Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
ii.ASI Monuments: Free public yoga at 81 centrally protected sites, including Purana Qila (Delhi), Gol Gumbaz (Karnataka), Konark Sun Temple (Odisha), Chittorgarh Fort (Rajasthan), and Elephanta Caves (Maharashtra), totaling yoga at 109 historical sites.
10 Signature Events for IDY 2025:
To mark IDY’s 10th anniversary, the Ministry of AYUSH organized events over 100 days:
- Yoga Sangam – The main IDY event, will orchestrate a synchronised mass yoga demonstration based on the Common Yoga Protocol (CYP) at over 1 lakh locations across India.
- Yoga Bandhan – Cross-country partnership events at iconic global landmarks
- Yoga Parks – Development of 1,000 community yoga parks nationwide
- Yoga Samavesh – Inclusive workshops focusing on divyangjan, senior citizens, youth, and marginalised groups
- Yoga Prabhava – A comprehensive ten-year impact assessment of yoga’s role in improving public health
- Yoga Connect – Virtual Global Yoga Summit featuring global experts; part of Yoga Connect 2025 Summit held in New Delhi with participants from Bahrain, United States of America (USA), United Kingdom (UK), and South Korea
- Harit Yoga – Environment-conscious yoga combined with tree planting and cleanliness drives
- Yoga Unplugged – Youth-centric outreach through music and pop culture platforms
- Yoga Maha Kumbh – A week-long national yoga festival at 10 locations, climaxing in a central event led by PM Narendra Modi
- Samyoga – A 100-day initiative integrating yoga with modern healthcare systems
PM Yoga Awards 2025:
The Prime Minister’s Yoga Awards 2025 aim to recognize outstanding contributions in the promotion and practice of Yoga. A total of four awards was presented in 2025, two National and two International.
- Each award carries a cash prize of Rs. 25 lakh (INR 2.5 million), along with a trophy and a certificate of recognition.
Uttarakhand Launches India’s First Yoga Policy:
On the occasion of IYD 2025, Uttarakhand Chief Minister (CM) Pushkar Singh Dhami launched India’s first dedicated Yoga Policy, positioning the state as a global wellness hub.
- Approved by the state cabinet, the policy aims to leverage Uttarakhand’s spiritual heritage (notably Rishikesh, the “Yoga Capital of the World“) to drive tourism, employment, and holistic health.
Key components of the Yoga Policy:
i.Subsidies up to Rs. 20 lakh for establishing yoga and meditation centres.
ii.Research grants up to Rs. 10 lakh for programmes in yoga, meditation, and naturopathy.
iii.Establishment of five new international yoga hubs by 2030 at Jageshwar, Mukteshwar, Vyas Valley, Tehri Lake, and Kolidhek Lake, supplementing the existing infrastructure in Rishikesh
iv.By March 2026, yoga services will be available at all AYUSH Health and Wellness Centres in the state.
v.Plans to create one Spiritual Economic Zone each in Garhwal and Kumaon divisions to promote Ayurveda, Naturopathy, Yoga, and spiritual tourism.
