New Delhi: An Inter-University Centre on Yogic Sciences (IUC-YS) will be established in Bengaluru by the University Grants Commission (UGC).

It will have the objective of serving as a resource centre in the field of Yogic Sciences catering to the academic and research interest of institutions, faculty and students engaged in the field of Yogic Sciences, a statement said yesterday. The estimated cost to establish the centre is Rs. 100 crore.

In order to provide further impetus to the promotion of Yoga, a necessity for establishing a Central facility was felt which would provide guidance and nurture the growth of Yoga in the country. Therefore, it was decided that an Inter-University Centre on Yogic Sciences (IUC-YS) should be setup to bring standardisation of Yoga courses, conduct research and provide evidence-based benefits of Yoga and unearth the techniques in the ancient traditional text of Yoga and to innovatively adopt them for the benefits of the modern society.

The Centre will act as a fulcrum for the development and growth of Yoga in the country and abroad.

International Day of Yoga (IDY) has found great enthusiasm and has got worldwide support. The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) recognised that Yoga provides a holistic approach to health and well-being and wider dissemination of information about the benefits of practicing Yoga for the health of the world population and declared 21st June as ‘International Day of Yoga’.

The broad function of this Centre would be to undertake research, and to develop curriculum and text books for the teaching of Yoga and resource books for teachers. It shall provide training and conduct continuous professional education programme, seminars and conferences in the field of Yoga education.

During 2017, the UGC had supported the cause of yoga by establishing Yoga Departments in six Central Universities located in Rajasthan, Kerala, Shantiniketan, Amarkantak, Imphal and Uttarakhand.