Yoga to be part of curriculum in RGUHS-affiliated colleges from this academic year

The Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS) has taken steps to implement yoga classes for all affiliated medical colleges across the State from the academic year 2025-26.

The RGUHS will implement this programme in collaboration with S-VYASA University and has decided to extend yoga classes to students in Dental, Nursing, Pharmacy and Allied Health Sciences Yoga classes will be conducted for students once in a week or fortnight.

“Keeping in mind the well-being of our students, we decided to implement ‘Compact Yoga for All the Students’ in all the constituent colleges of our university. An order in this regard will be issued soon,” said Bhagavan B.C., Vice-Chancellor of RGUHS.

The National Medical Commission (NMC) released an advisory in 2022 to implement yoga in all medical colleges . It is advised to introduce yoga training to all students during the foundation course for a maximum of one hour every day for 10 days. The Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga under the Ministry of AYUSH has developed a common yoga protocol andthe NMC had sent the booklets to all medical colleges. However, it was not implemented in the State.

Meanwhile, the RGUHS has launched ‘drug free, tobacco free and plastic free campus’ campaign in its all affiliated colleges recently. As a part of this campaign, it has decided to implement yoga classes.

“According to a national survey, 30% of health care workers and 20% of students studying in health care institutions in India are addicted to narcotics. Yoga is very helpful for the physical and mental health of the students. It is also helpful in relieving addiction and stress among students. a curriculum is being prepared regarding theory and practical classes. More emphasis will be given to practical in the curriculum,” Dr.Bhagavan said.

Further, he said that more than 93 countries around the world have adopted yoga, but

Most of the nursing, allied health sciences, and pharmacy colleges affiliated with the university do not have suitable places to practise yoga. “If yoga is made a part of the curriculum, it can be practised in the classrooms too,” he added.

Mental health

RGUHS has also taken steps for the mental health of students by starting counselling centers. “We have four RGUHS regional centers across the state, and it has been decided to start a ‘Rajiv Gandhi Well Being Clinic Center’ here. Our students will be subjected to counselling for stress, and lifestyle management. If there is substance abuse, psychiatry and community medicine experts will conduct counseling and treatment in these centers. These facilities are for RGUHS students. In case of any requirements from any other schools and colleges, we will plan to extend them,” Bhagavan stated.

Financial literacy

Along with this, the RGUHS is also planning to implement financial literacy programmes to their students like how banks works, loan processing system, how to manage their money and other resources, cyber crime and others.