AICTE Made Yoga, Sports Compulsory for Degree in Technical Colleges
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AICTE Made Yoga, Sports Compulsory for Degree in Technical Colleges

Students of engineering colleges and technical institutes will have to take part actively in yoga, sports or other socially relevant activities in addition to their regular academics to be awarded a degree. The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) which governs more than 10,000 institutions having over 18 lakh students, has now made these mandatory for the “well-being (of the students) and for the society too”.

Students will have to ensure 25 per cent attendance in one of these activities although there won’t be any marks for their performance. AICTE feels that by doing yoga or sports, students can take care of their health.



Earlier, the institutions had organizations such as National Social Service (NSS), National Cadet Corps (NCC) and the Unnat Bharat Abhiyan (UBA) campaign  for these activities, but these were used to be voluntary not compulsory for earning a degree.

Yoga’s role in education has also expanded widely. This year, the NCERT planned Yoga Olympiad to mark June 21 (International Yoga Day). The UGC has inducted yoga as a subject in the NET. Six central universities have been granted Rs. 10 crores each to set up yoga departments.

A Senior AICTE official said, “Apart from studies, students need to do other activities too which is good for their well-being and for the society too”. Officials said the move will help in the holistic development of students.

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Many students and academic staff welcome the move and said unless it is made mandatory; students will not take it up. By doing yoga or sports, they can take care of their physical and mental health. While, some activists take this healthy step as implementation of Pro-Hindutva policies by BJP led Central Government.

The all India boards of studies was considering incorporation of yoga and value addition to the curriculum of engineering courses, the HRD ministry had said recently.

The government aims to uplift rural India under the Unnat Bharat Abhiyan (UBA), by enabling higher educational institutions to work with villages in identifying development challenges and finding solutions for enabling sustainable growth.

Under the central government’s flagship Unnat Bharat Abhiyan (UBA), which aims to uplift rural India, students will have to visit villages and engage with the rural folk to learn from their respective lifestyle.

Last month, the University Grants Commission (UGC) under Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) had asked all universities and colleges to prioritize the celebration of the International Yoga Day (IYD), and submit proof of activities undertaken by students and faculty for review, notes Hindustan Times.

READ ALSO: ‘HEERA’ Higher Education Regulator To Replace AICTE And UGC

The NSS is a large-scale community service programme meant for the youth to engage with social problems and is run by universities across the country. 

Last year, Sport Ministry have sent a proposal to MHRD to make sports compulsory in Business Schools. The Indian Institute of Management Bangalore, has incorporated sport in its curriculum last year to foster bonding among its students and improve their fitness.

Sport of the students’ choice has been made mandatory for first-year students. Although there will be no credits, their participation in sport will reflect on score sheets as an observation.

There are mix reactions and thought on this mandatory Yoga and Sports in technical institutes. Some feel as a healthy move for students to relax physically and mentally and lower down the pressure and some felt as implementation of Pro-Hindutva policies by Narendra Modi led Central Government. If you have any feedback or comments regarding this, please post on our Aftergraduation Forum. Connect with us on Facebook  and Twitter.

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