

NEW DELHI: The 10 lakh-strong paramilitary forces of the country have been asked by the Centre to include Yoga in their daily physical drills.

The Union home ministry has asked the forces to implement these directions on a "priority" and ensure Yoga is practised even at active duty areas like border posts and those in the Left Wing Extremism affected states of the country.

"Physical exercises are the part of daily routine of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and Assam Rifles personnel in various field formations like battalions, Group Centres, border out posts etc. Keeping in view the importance Yoga has gained in recent time, it would be prudent to include it as part of daily physical exercise of the forces in various field establishments," a directive from the Home Ministry said.

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The directives have been issued to the six CAPFs like Central Reserve Police Force, Border Security Force, Central Industrial Security Force, Indo-Tibetan Border Police Force, Sashastra Seema Bal, National Security Guard and the Assam Rifles which work under the command of the Union Home Ministry.

The order has asked the Directors General (DsG) of the forces to issue appropriate instructions to their field formations spread across the country and also submit an action taken report in this regard.

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"Yoga is an invaluable gift of India's ancient tradition and it is the responsibility of everyone to preserve it by adopting it as a part of daily activity. Accordingly, it would be appropriate to incorporate Yoga as part of daily routine of force personnel," the order said.