Government of India continues to take global leadership in the observation of the
International Day of Yoga on 21st June every year, and uses the occasion to propagate this
holistic approach to health and well-being across the national boundaries. In India, an
estimated 50 lakh people participated in yoga training programmes of up to 1 month
duration held as part of the observation of the International Day of Yoga in 2016, making it
an unprecedented exercise in promotion of preventive healthcare in India.
The second International Day of Yoga was celebrated by organising various events
concerning Yoga including Mass Yoga Demonstration at National and International level.
The main event of Mass Yoga Demonstration was organized at Capital Complex, Chandigarh
on 21st June, 2016. Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared two Awards- International and
National Awards for outstanding contribution in Yoga. Prime Minister also declared to focus
on Yoga for diabetes during the current year.
Ministry of AYUSH organized the 9th Annual meeting of the International Regulatory
Cooperation for Herbal Medicines (IRCH) during 8-10 November 2016 at New Delhi. IRCH
has been working to protect and promote public health and safety through improved
regulations for herbal medicine across the globe. India is one of the 33 members of IRCH
and has regularly been participating in the Annual IRCH working group meetings. The
meeting was attended by 17 Member Countries with 33 delegates including 3 WHO officials.
Quality of herbal material & products and vigilance of herbal medicines were deliberated in
detail for promotion and facilitating the safe use of herbal medicines. The event provided
an excellent platform to showcase the strengths of AYUSH systems of medicine.
As a result of concerted efforts made by the Ministry of AYUSH in collaboration with
Ministry of Culture and Ministry of External Affairs, Yoga has been inscribed in the UNESCO's
representative list as the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity on 1st December, 2016
which would further propagate ideas of peace and tolerance in other countries.
The Ministry of AYUSH organized the “BRICS High Level Meeting on Traditional Medicinal
Knowledge” on 16th December 2016 at New Delhi as part of the 6th BRICS Health Minister’s
Meeting. The High Level Meeting was organized as a follow up to the “Goa Declaration”
adopted at the 8th BRICS Summit. There were country presentations from each of the BRICS
countries on the status of Traditional/Alternative Medicine in their respective countries
followed by the discussions on way forward for bilateral and multilateral collaboration
among the BRICS countries on Protection of Genetic Resources and Traditional Knowledge
at International Forum; mutual recognition of pharmacopoeias, practice and practitioners;
and import/export of Traditional/Alternative Medicines etc. Extensive deliberations led to
finalization of the Action Plan which was unanimously adopted by the BRICS Member
Countries.
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