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Andhra Pradesh's landmark 1987 Act: Birth of structured yoga education in India; Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend International Yoga Day event in Vizag on June 21
VISAKHAPATNAM: Andhra Pradesh will take centre stage on June 21, when Visakhapatnam hosts the International Yoga Day celebrations, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi attending as the chief guest.
The event also highlights the state's historical role in the formalisation of yoga education, a legacy that dates back to 1987.
Former chief minister NT Rama Rao's second term (1985-89) was marked by a conscious appeal to Telugu cultural pride, and the Andhra Pradesh Yogadhyayana Parishad Act, 1987 (Act 25 of 1987) fitted neatly into that narrative. By legislating an autonomous 'Parishad' dedicated to yoga and naturopathy, NTR moved these disciplines from the realm of private ashrams and short-term courses into the formal education structure.
The Act's preamble explicitly positions yoga not merely as heritage but as a public health instrument, signalling a state-centric, welfare-oriented approach rather than a purely cultural one.
Historically, the practices of yoga in India, while deeply ingrained in cultural and spiritual traditions, often lacked a formalised structure for education and professional accreditation. Teaching methodologies and standards varied widely, typically relying on lineage-based instruction or individual institutional discretion.
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This informal landscape presented challenges in ensuring consistent quality, professional recognition, and public trust. The 1987 Act emerged as a transformative measure to address this gap.
While national bodies like the Central Council for Research in Yoga & Naturopathy (1995) would take a broader mandate later, Andhra Pradesh's 1987 experiment offered a template — legislative recognition, university linkage, and fiscal support.
Interestingly, while the state health minister served as the chairman of the governing council of the Parishad, the vice-chancellor of the (Dr NTR) University of Health Sciences in Vijayawada was the vice-chairman.
Before Andhra Pradesh enacted the Yogadhyayana Parishad Act in 1987, no other Indian state had introduced a yoga-specific statute for higher education. Earlier initiatives in states such as Gujarat, Bihar, Delhi, and Karnataka operated either as depts within existing universities or as private or centrally administered societies, rather than through state legislation.
AP Yogadhyayana Parishad Act formalised yoga education in three key ways. First, it introduced a standardised curriculum and certification process, eliminating the inconsistencies of guru-issued diplomas. Second, by granting the Parishad oversight over funding and institutional inspections, it established a quality-control framework and ensured stable financial support for yoga schools.
Third, its mandatory affiliation with the Health University integrated yoga pedagogy into mainstream education, fostering cross-disciplinary research, shared libraries, and clinical internships, an early example of state-level integrative medicine policy.
Despite these advancements, the model had its limitations, particularly in centralised decision-making, which restricted its outreach beyond Hyderabad. Ultimately, the 1987 Act was repealed in 1990 following a change in regime. However, in a high-power committee meeting held in March 1990, it was resolved to maintain the institutions created under the Parishad.
Even though the Act was short-lived, it successfully transformed yoga from a cultural practice into an examinable, research-driven academic discipline. The Act also laid the groundwork for India's contemporary Ayush framework nearly a decade before its formal inception.
AP Yogadhyayana Parishad Act, 1987
Act was the first dedicated, yoga-specific legislative initiative in any Indian state
It created Yogadhyayana Parishad as a statutory body with extensive authority over curriculum, examinations, research, and institutional oversight
By formalising curriculum guidelines, the Act eliminated inconsistencies in yoga education previously shaped by individual institutions
The Act positioned yoga not just as a cultural practice but as a tool for disease prevention and holistic well-being
It encouraged evidence-based research in yoga and naturopathy, contributing to the modernisation of traditional health systems
The framework was designed to be robust yet adaptable, serving as a potential model for other states or even countries
The Act contributed both to improving public health outcomes and preserving India's cultural heritage
Though repealed in 1990, the Act's foundational approach to structured yoga education continues to influence policy and professional standards in India
