The positive nod has been given from University Grants Commission (UGC) to include yoga as one of the subject in national eligibility test (NET). The committee which is headed by yoga Guru HR Nagenddra, VC Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana Bengaluru proposed to include the same in NET so as to make it one of the promising career options.
According to reports "ever since the NDA government came to power in the year 2014 yoga has gained importance. Since then, it has been introduced as a subject in school and university curricula and the same has also made it to the syllabi of IITs."
Yoga and Guest lecturers
The panel is also considering the possibility of calling experts from institutes such as Baba Ramdev's Patanjali Yogpeeth as guest lecturers at universities. Salary will be given to them as per the norms of UGC. At present, there are 52 institutions across the country where yoga is being taught and about 16 offer an MA degree in the discipline.
Once the proposal in finalized, candidates who have graduate and post graduate degree in the subject can appear for the NET and after clearing the exam they will be deemed eligible for teaching and research fellowships in colleges and universities.
Yoga is most likely to be included within the June 2017 NET exam. An official said, "Post-graduates in yoga have been unable to get teaching jobs now because there was no NET conducted for yoga.'' In addition to this, Yoga departments will be opened in six central universities.
NET is conducted for determining the eligibility of Indian nationals for the eligibility for Assistant Professor only or Junior Research Fellowship and Assistant Professor both in Indian universities and colleges. It will be held in 83 subjects at 89 selected NET examination cities spread across the country.