Rijiju Marks International Day of Yoga 2026 at Netaji Island
Synopsis
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju celebrated International Day of Yoga 2026 at the historic Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Island in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, joined by LG Admiral D.K. Joshi and senior island officials, under the theme 'Yoga for Healthy Ageing'.
Key Takeaways
Kiren Rijiju , Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, attended International Day of Yoga 2026 celebrations on 21 June 2026 .
The event was held at Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Island (formerly Ross Island), renamed in 2018 to honour the freedom fighter.
Lieutenant Governor Admiral D.K.
Joshi (Retd.) , Chief Secretary Dr.
Chandra Bhusan Kumar , and DGP Ravindra Singh Yadav were among those present.
The 2026 IDY theme is 'Yoga for Healthy Ageing' , reflecting a policy push to integrate yoga into preventive health for older adults.
International Day of Yoga was established by a UN General Assembly resolution in December 2014 on a proposal by Prime Minister Narendra Modi .
The Ministry of AYUSH coordinates national IDY programming across India and at Indian missions abroad.
Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju joined senior Andaman and Nicobar administration officials and yoga enthusiasts on Sunday, 21 June 2026, to mark International Day of Yoga 2026 at the historic Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Island in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Context
Rijiju was joined at the event by Lieutenant Governor Admiral D.K. Joshi (Retd.), PVSM, AVSM, YSM, NM, VSM; Chief Secretary Dr. Chandra Bhusan Kumar, IAS; and Director General of Police Ravindra Singh Yadav, IPS, along with administration officials. The minister described the occasion as a collective embrace of 'the timeless practice that nurtures harmony between mind, body and spirit,' set amid the natural surroundings of the islands.
The venue, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Island — formerly known as Ross Island — was renamed in 2018 to honour the iconic freedom fighter, making it a site that links India's heritage with contemporary public messaging.
Policy Backdrop
The International Day of Yoga is observed every year on 21 June, following a United Nations General Assembly resolution (69/131) adopted in December 2014 on a proposal by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. India has since held large-scale yoga events across the country and at symbolically significant locations to project the practice as a pillar of preventive health and cultural soft power.
The Ministry of AYUSH, which oversees policy on Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy, coordinates national-level IDY programming. The 2026 theme, 'Yoga for Healthy Ageing' (reflected in the hashtag #YogaForHealthyAgeing), signals a deliberate policy push to position yoga within preventive health frameworks targeting older adults.
Stakeholders and Impact
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands, with their strategic maritime significance and distinct island ecosystem, provided an evocative backdrop for the central government's participation. Staging the event at a renamed heritage site reinforces the government's broader effort to connect India's freedom-movement legacy with its contemporary wellness agenda.
Yoga enthusiasts, AYUSH practitioners, and island residents participated in the observance, underscoring the reach of the annual initiative beyond major metropolitan centres. The presence of the island's top administrative and police leadership alongside a Union Cabinet minister signalled the event's institutional weight.
What's Next
With IDY 2026 observed across India and at overseas Indian missions, attention will now turn to any new guidelines from the Ministry of AYUSH on structured yoga programmes for older adults, consistent with the healthy-ageing theme. Planning for International Day of Yoga 2027 and potential venue announcements at symbolically significant national sites are expected to follow in the months ahead.
Point of View
Likely anticipating India's ageing population curve. Rijiju's presence in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, a Union Territory of strategic maritime importance, also carries an implicit message about the Centre's administrative engagement with its island territories. Taken together, the event reinforces yoga's dual role in Indian public policy: a preventive-health tool and a vehicle for soft power and heritage projection.
NationPress
21 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Where was International Day of Yoga 2026 celebrated by Kiren Rijiju?
Kiren Rijiju celebrated International Day of Yoga 2026 at Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Island in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands on 21 June 2026 .
What is the theme of International Day of Yoga 2026?
The theme of International Day of Yoga 2026 is 'Yoga for Healthy Ageing' , reflecting a focus on integrating yoga into preventive health frameworks for older adults.
Who is Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Island named after and when was it renamed?
The island was formerly known as Ross Island and was renamed Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Island in 2018 to honour the freedom fighter Subhash Chandra Bose .
When did the United Nations declare 21 June as International Day of Yoga?
The UN General Assembly declared 21 June as International Day of Yoga in December 2014 through resolution 69/131 , following a proposal by Prime Minister Narendra Modi .
Who is the Lieutenant Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands?
Admiral D.K. Joshi (Retd.) , PVSM, AVSM, YSM, NM, VSM, is the Lieutenant Governor of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands .
