Lok Sabha Question No. 1533 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-19
Subject: Yoga Research Projects
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: PONGULETI SRINIVASA REDDY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1533 TO BE ANSWERED ON 19/12/2018

## YOGA RESEARCH PROJECTS

## 1533.  SHRI PONGULETI SRINIVASA REDDY:

Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ÉÊ´ÉYÉÉxÉ +ÉÉè® |ÉÉètÉÉäÉÊMÉBÉEÉÒ àÉÆjÉÉÒ be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has funded a wide range of research institutions including 16 yoga research projects and support studies employing hi-tech tools on efficacy in treatment of illnesses, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether India needs to catch up with the West where several groups are studying various aspects of yoga and meditation and its relationship to the brain; and
- (c) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken/being taken in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, MINISTER OF EARTH SCIENCES AND MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (DR. HARSH VARDHAN)

ÉÊ´ÉYÉÉxÉ +ÉÉè® |ÉÉètÉÉäÉÊMÉBÉEÉÒ àÉÆjÉÉÒ, {Éßl´ÉÉÒ ÉÊ´ÉYÉÉxÉ àÉÆjÉÉÒ +ÉÉè® {ÉªÉÉÇ´É®hÉ, ´ÉxÉ A´ÉÆ VÉãÉ´ÉÉªÉÖ {ÉÉÊ®´ÉiÉÇxÉ àÉÆjÉÉÒ

(bÉ. c­ÉÇ ´ÉvÉÇxÉ)

(a) Yes,  Madam.  In  the  year  2017-18,  Department  of  Sciences  and  Technology  (DST)  has supported  16  yoga  research  projects  under  'Science  and  Technology  of  Yoga  and  Meditation (SATYAM)' Programme to various institutions viz. National Chemical Laboratory, Pune; National Institute  of  Advanced  Studies,  Bangalore;  Health  Action  by  People,  Trivandrum;    Manipal University, Bangalore; Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi; National Institute of Mental Health and  Neurosciences,  Bangalore;  All  India  Institute  of  Medical  Sciences,  New  Delhi;  MS  Ramaiah Medical  College,  Bangalore;  Bharati  Vidhyapeeth  University,  Pune;  Swami  Vivekananda  Yoga Anusandhana  Samasthana,  Bangalore;  Kalasalingam  Academy  of  Research  and  Education, Krishnankoil; Light on Yoga Research Trust, Mumbai and Apollo Gleneagles Hospital, Kolkata. Under these projects, research is being carried out to investigate physical and mental ailments like Mild  Cognitive  Impairment  in  older  adults,  management  of  diabetes,  motor  and  non-motor manifestations  in  patients  of  Parkinson's  Disease,  balance  in  elderly,  schizophrenia,  metabolic regulation,  cardiovascular  risk,  intervention  for  opioid  dependence,  improvement  in  muscle function and gait characteristics in children with cerebral palsy, dementia, etc. (b) & (c): Yoga and Meditation are traditional practices of India and their benefits are mentioned in ancient Indian Literature. The scientific research to understand the role of yoga and meditation in human well being is being conducted both-in India as well as in western countries. In 2015-16, to promote scientific research in yoga and meditation, the DST has started a new programme 'Science and  Technology  of  Yoga  and  Meditation  (SATYAM)'  under  its  Cognitive  Science  Research Initiative (CSRI). The aim of SATYAM programme is to explore the effect of yoga and meditation on mental and physical health which also includes its relationship with brain. Since its inception, 61

research projects have been supported under SATYAM.

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