India launches yoga protocol
India’s Union Ayush Ministry rolled out an evidence-based “Yoga Protocol for Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) and Target Groups” to prevent and manage conditions like diabetes and hypertension through daily guided yoga practice. (CNBC TV18 / Nagaland Post) (cnbctv18.com) (nagalandpost.com).
Launched at the Yoga Mahotsav–2026 event in New Delhi on March 13, 2026, the protocols were unveiled by Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Ayush Prataprao Jadhav as part of the 100‑day countdown to International Day of Yoga 2026. (pib.gov.in) The package comprises 10 specialised “Yoga Protocols for Non‑Communicable Diseases and Target Groups,” developed at the Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga under the Ministry of Ayush. (thenewshour.org) Development was led by the WHO Collaborating Centre for Traditional Medicine (Yoga) hosted at MDNIY, which the Ministry identified as the nodal body for the new modules. (ndtv.com) The NCD modules prescribe daily sessions of roughly 30–60 minutes that combine asanas, pranayama, meditation and relaxation, while a separate “Yoga for Air Travel” routine is a 5‑minute seated protocol designed for flyers. (economictimes.indiatimes.com) (medgatetoday.com) Official launch materials and booklets for the protocols were published online on Ayush/MDNIY portals and made available for download. (yoga.ayush.gov.in) Officials linked the rollout to India’s rising NCD burden, citing government estimates that non‑communicable diseases now account for nearly two‑thirds of deaths in the country. (economictimes.indiatimes.com)
