Rajnath Singh performs Yoga with 1,000 soldiers in Shillong
SHILLONG, June 21, 2026 — Defence Minister Rajnath Singh led the Defence Forces and the Ministry of Defence in celebrating the 12th International Day of Yoga by performing various asanas and breathing exercises with around 1,000 soldiers of the Indian Air Force and the Indian Army at the Eastern Air Command Headquarters in Shillong, Meghalaya.
Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Eastern Air Command Air Marshal Inderpal Singh Walia, and General Officer Commanding of Headquarters 101 Area Lieutenant General Mohit Wadhwa also performed Yoga alongside the Defence Minister.
Addressing the media during the event, Rajnath Singh described Yoga as a holistic science and an art of living that connects individuals with their inner selves, society, nature, and the divine. He stated that yoga offers a pathway to inner stability, mental clarity, and emotional resilience.
In a social media post, the Defence Minister credited the persistent efforts and visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for transforming Yoga into a global movement that provides health benefits worldwide. He emphasized that Yoga symbolizes the strength of ancient Indian traditions in ensuring human well-being, and appealed to citizens to make Yoga an integral part of their daily lives to build a healthy body, a calm mind, and a strong nation.
Participants at the event watched the Prime Minister’s International Day of Yoga speech delivered from the historic Red Road in Kolkata, West Bengal. Yoga sessions were also conducted across numerous forward locations, showcasing the dedication of the defence forces personnel. Meanwhile, Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth celebrated the day at Swarn Jyanti Dikshant Mandap at Ranchi University during an event organized by the Ministry of AYUSH, where he highlighted yoga as a powerful medium for fostering positivity and maintaining composure in all circumstances.
In New Delhi, Chief of Defence Staff General NS Raja Subramani led the celebrations organized by the Headquarters of the Integrated Defence Staff at the National War Memorial. This event was attended by Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit along with other senior officers and their families.
Additionally, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, Secretary of Defence Finance Vishvajit Sahay, and Controller General of Defence Accounts Anugraha Narayana Das joined senior officials to perform Yoga at the office of the Controller General of Defence Accounts in New Delhi. Aligning with the 2026 theme of ‘Yoga for Healthy Ageing’, more than 10,000 officials of the Defence Accounts Department across the country participated in the virtual mass movement to promote overall well-being.