Rajnath Singh leads 1,000 troops in yoga at Shillong on 12th International Yoga Day
Synopsis
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh took the 12th International Yoga Day to the frontlines — literally. With 1,000 IAF and Army personnel at Eastern Air Command HQ in Shillong and 10,000-plus Defence Accounts officials joining virtually, India's military establishment turned the annual observance into a nationwide institutional statement on fitness and resilience.
Key Takeaways
Rajnath Singh led around 1,000 IAF and Army personnel in yoga at Eastern Air Command HQ, Shillong on 21 June 2025 .
The event marked the 12th International Day of Yoga , themed 'Yoga for Healthy Ageing' .
Meghalaya CM Conrad K.
Sangma and Air Chief Marshal A.P.
Singh were among senior dignitaries present.
Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan led parallel celebrations at the National War Memorial, New Delhi .
More than 10,000 Defence Accounts Department officials joined a virtual yoga session nationwide.
Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday, 21 June led approximately 1,000 Indian Air Force and Army personnel in a mass yoga session at the Eastern Air Command Headquarters in Shillong, Meghalaya, marking the 12th International Day of Yoga (IDY). The event underscored yoga's role in building physical fitness, mental well-being, and emotional resilience among defence forces.
Key Dignitaries Present
Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Air Command Air Marshal Inderpal Singh Walia, and General Officer Commanding Headquarters 101 Area Lieutenant General Mohit Wadhwa were among the senior officials who participated in the Shillong event.
What Rajnath Singh Said
Addressing the gathering, Singh described yoga as far more than a fitness regimen. 'Yoga is not merely a form of exercise. It is a holistic science and an art of living that leads a person towards inner stability, mental clarity and emotional resilience,' the Defence Minister said.
Singh also credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for transforming yoga into a global movement. In a post on social media platform X, he said the Prime Minister's visionary leadership and sustained efforts had helped make yoga a worldwide movement for health and wellness. He urged citizens to incorporate yoga into their daily routines, stating that a healthy body and a calm mind are essential for building a strong nation.
Nationwide Defence Participation
Participants at the Shillong venue watched Prime Minister Modi's International Day of Yoga address, broadcast live from Kolkata's historic Red Road. Simultaneously, yoga sessions were organised at several forward military locations, reflecting broad institutional commitment to the annual observance.
In New Delhi, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan led Yoga Day celebrations at the National War Memorial. Chief of Integrated Defence Staff and Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, along with senior officers and their families, participated in the programme organised by Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff.
Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh and other senior officials of the Ministry of Defence also joined yoga sessions in New Delhi.
Theme and Scale
This year's theme — 'Yoga for Healthy Ageing' — shaped events across the defence establishment. More than 10,000 Defence Accounts Department officials nationwide participated in a virtual mass yoga session aimed at promoting overall health and well-being, reflecting the scale of institutional mobilisation around the observance.
As yoga's global footprint continues to expand, the defence establishment's coordinated participation signals an enduring institutional alignment with the practice beyond symbolic observance.
Point of View
000-strong virtual event — is less about wellness optics and more about institutional discipline signalling. Rajnath Singh's choice of Eastern Air Command HQ in Shillong, a strategically sensitive northeastern command, adds a layer of messaging that goes beyond the ceremonial. What is worth watching is whether this annual participation translates into sustained fitness mandates within the forces, or remains a well-photographed ritual tied to the calendar.
NationPress
21 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Where did Rajnath Singh celebrate International Yoga Day 2025?
Rajnath Singh celebrated the 12th International Day of Yoga at the Eastern Air Command Headquarters in Shillong, Meghalaya, leading around 1,000 IAF and Army personnel in a mass yoga session on 21 June 2025.
What is the theme of International Day of Yoga 2025?
The theme for the 12th International Day of Yoga is 'Yoga for Healthy Ageing', which guided events across the defence establishment, including a virtual session for over 10,000 Defence Accounts Department officials.
Who else participated in Yoga Day events across India's defence forces?
Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan led celebrations at the National War Memorial in New Delhi, while Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh and senior Ministry of Defence officials also participated in yoga sessions in the capital.
How many defence officials participated in Yoga Day events nationwide?
Beyond the 1,000 personnel at Shillong, more than 10,000 Defence Accounts Department officials across the country joined a virtual mass yoga session, with additional sessions held at several forward military locations simultaneously.
What did Rajnath Singh say about yoga at the Shillong event?
Singh described yoga as 'a holistic science and an art of living that leads a person towards inner stability, mental clarity and emotional resilience.' He also credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for transforming yoga into a global movement for health and wellness.
