The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has announced early morning train services beginning at 4 am on 21 June 2026 (Sunday) across all lines to facilitate the movement of yoga enthusiasts participating in International Yoga Day events across the national capital region. The decision, shared via an official post on X, is aimed at ensuring a smooth commute for thousands expected to attend large-scale yoga gatherings in and around New Delhi.

Early Service Schedule and Key Departures

According to DMRC, trains will commence from 04:00 am from all originating stations on every metro line. Two specific exceptions apply: the first train from Kirti Nagar to Brig. Hoshiar Singh metro station will depart at 04:10 am, while the first train from Dwarka to Dhansa Bus Stand will leave at 04:15 am.

Services will operate at 30-minute intervals until 6 am, after which regular Sunday timetable frequencies will resume. The staggered early-morning schedule is designed to absorb the surge in commuter movement ahead of dawn yoga sessions.

Nationwide Preparations in Full Swing

Preparations across India intensified on Saturday ahead of the 21 June celebrations. Large-scale yoga events and awareness programmes were organised in cities including Kolkata, Hyderabad, Jodhpur, and New Delhi, drawing political leaders, yoga practitioners, diplomats, and citizens.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to lead the main International Yoga Day event in Kolkata, where he is expected to perform yoga alongside thousands of participants. Prof. Kashinath Samagandi, Director of the Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga, confirmed the Prime Minister's participation at the Kolkata event.

Political and Cultural Significance

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Prakash Reddy, speaking in Hyderabad, credited Prime Minister Modi's diplomatic efforts for securing international recognition of Yoga Day at the United Nations. The day has been observed globally since 2015, following a UN resolution passed in 2014.

In Andhra Pradesh, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu joined yoga guru Baba Ramdev at the historic Undavalli Caves in Amaravati for Yoga Day celebrations, underscoring the event's reach beyond the national capital.

What Commuters Should Know

Commuters planning to attend yoga events on 21 June are advised to note the 30-minute frequency in the early hours and plan their journeys accordingly. Regular Sunday services resume after 6 am. DMRC has urged participants to use the metro to avoid traffic congestion near major event venues.

With India's yoga movement drawing global attention and millions expected to participate nationwide, the DMRC's early service extension reflects the scale of civic mobilisation around International Yoga Day 2026.