The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (I&B) and the Ministry of AYUSH have initiated preparations for the International Day of Yoga (IDY) 2024, celebrated annually on June 21. Senior officials Shri Sanjay Jaju, Secretary of I&B, and Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary of AYUSH, reviewed media and outreach strategies to promote this year's event.

To raise awareness about the Common Yoga Protocol (CYP) and the benefits of yoga, various media units under the Ministry of I&B, including the Press Information Bureau, Prasar Bharati, and the New Media Wing, are planning a series of activities. Prasar Bharati will broadcast a range of programs through the Doordarshan (DD) and All India Radio (AIR) networks, featuring interviews with yoga experts and special live morning shows.

In collaboration with the Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga, Akashvani will air programs promoting yoga as a lifestyle for overall wellness. The Ministry of AYUSH has also prepared a ‘Yoga Geet’ that will be disseminated across all media platforms.

The I&B Ministry will continue its initiative of recognizing private media organizations with the Antarashtriya Yoga Diwas Media Samman (AYDMS), established on June 9, 2023. This award acknowledges the contributions of media houses in promoting yoga through print, TV, and radio. Categories include 'Best Media Coverage in Yoga in Newspaper,' 'Best Media Coverage in Yoga in Electronic Media (TV),' and 'Best Media Coverage in Yoga in Electronic Media (Radio).' Awards for both this year and the previous year will be presented after the 2024 celebrations.

The New Media Wing will engage the public with activities such as a ‘Yoga with Family’ contest on social media, encouraging families to share videos of their yoga practice set to the Yoga Geet. Additionally, a ‘Yoga Quiz - Guess the Asana’ and an IDY 2024 Podcast will be launched.

In the lead-up to IDY, various media units and organizations will host yoga sessions and workshops. Yoga camps and seminars will also be conducted to promote wellness among employees.

Since its inception, the celebration of International Day of Yoga has grown in scale. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has championed these efforts, notably leading the 2023 festivities at the UN headquarters, attended by delegates from 135 nations, setting a Guinness World Record for participation. The main national event in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, saw over 15,000 participants performing the CYP in the presence of Vice President  Jagdeep Dhankar.

Internationally, the ‘Ocean Ring of Yoga’ initiative involved naval personnel from 19 ships across 34 countries, supported by the Ministries of Defence, External Affairs, and Ports, Shipping, and Waterways. Yoga demonstrations were held from the Arctic to Antarctica, including at India’s research bases Himadri and Bharati. The Indian armed forces conducted the ‘Yoga Bharatmala’ and coastal demonstrations termed ‘Yoga Sagarmala.’

At the grassroots level, the ‘Har Aangan Yoga’ initiative connected with rural communities, organizing sessions at Panchayats, Anganwadi centers, and schools, reaching approximately 200,000 locations. The IDY 2023 saw an estimated 23.4 crore participants.

As preparations for IDY 2024 continue, the ministries aim to surpass previous records and further spread the message of yoga's holistic benefits across the globe.