Defence Minister Rajnath Singh led the Defence Forces and the Ministry of Defence in celebrating the 12th International Day of Yoga (IDY) by performing various asanas and breathing exercises with around 1,000 personnel of the Indian Air Force and the Indian Army at the Eastern Air Command Headquarters in Shillong, Meghalaya, on Sunday.
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 also participated in the yoga session alongside the Defence Minister.
Addressing mediapersons on the occasion, Rajnath Singh described yoga as a holistic science and an art of living that connects individuals with their inner selves, society, nature, and ultimately, the divine.
He added that yoga offers a path to inner stability, mental clarity, and emotional resilience.
In a post on X, the Defence Minister credited the persistent efforts and visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for transforming yoga into a global movement that is benefiting people across the world.
He emphasised that yoga symbolises the strength of India’s ancient traditions and contributes to the well-being of humanity as a whole.
The Defence Minister appealed to people to make yoga an integral part of their daily lives in order to build a healthy body, a calm mind, and a strong nation.
All participants watched the Prime Minister’s International Day of Yoga address delivered from the historic Red Road in Kolkata.
Yoga sessions were also organised at numerous forward locations, reflecting the dedication and enthusiasm of defence personnel.
Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth celebrated Yoga Day at Swarn Jayanti Dikshant Mandap, Ranchi University, during an event organised by the Ministry of AYUSH.
He also underlined the importance of incorporating yoga into daily life, saying it teaches people to remain calm in both favourable and adverse circumstances. Seth described yoga as one of the most powerful mediums for fostering positivity.
Chief of Defence Staff General N.S. Raja Subramani led the Yoga Day celebrations organised by Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff at the National War Memorial in New Delhi.
Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee, Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, along with other senior officers and their families, attended the event.
Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, Secretary (Defence Finance) Vishvajit Sahay, and Controller General of Defence Accounts (CGDA) Anugraha Narayana Das, along with other senior officials of the Ministry of Defence and the Defence Accounts Department, performed yoga at the CGDA office in New Delhi.
Celebrating ‘Yoga for Healthy Ageing’, the theme of IDY 2026, more than 10,000 officials of the Defence Accounts Department across the country joined the virtual mass movement to promote yoga and overall well-being.