Defence Minister Rajnath Singh led approximately 2,500 soldiers in performing yoga asanas and breathing exercises at the Northern Command in Udhampur on International Day of Yoga, highlighting yoga as a means of clarity, resilience, and spiritual grounding. He credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for transforming yoga into a global wellness tradition and declared it a tool “beyond borders and religions.”
Calling yoga an art, science, and discipline, Singh said it enables control over mind and body and praised the Armed Forces for integrating it into daily routine. Referring to Operation Sindoor as a reflection of that inner strength, he said it demonstrated India’s resolve against terrorism, positioning the operation as a continuation of the 2016 surgical strikes and 2019 air strikes. He said Pakistan had requested a ceasefire following the operation and warned that further action would continue if necessary.
Singh said yoga should unify all communities with India’s spiritual core. “If even one section is left behind, the wheel of unity and security is broken,” he said. He also highlighted the relevance of the “One Earth, One Health” theme and India’s message to the world that wellness is universal.
Yoga sessions were simultaneously conducted by the Armed Forces in forward posts across Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. In New Delhi, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh and senior officials practiced yoga at the CGDA office. Integrated Defence Staff marked the day at the National War Memorial. At Army Hospital (R&R), over 1,500 participants including doctors and patients performed yoga and participated in a tree-planting drive.
Raksha Rajya Mantri Sanjay Seth joined Yoga Day events in Ranchi, emphasizing its benefits for youth. The event reinforced yoga’s growing role in both personal well-being and national solidarity.
