Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be leading a session of Yoga at the United Nations Secretariat in New York on June 21. Shombi Sharp, United Nations Resident Coordinator in India, said it would be a very big deal, with people worldwide recognising the importance of yoga once International Yoga Day came into force in 2015, supported by 175 countries. The initiative aims to raise awareness of the benefits of practicing yoga and is promoting mindfulness and mental health. Modi has been pushing for international recognition of yoga, which embodies unity of mind and body, thought and action as a holistic approach to well-being.
Sharp also spoke of India’s central role in the International Day of UN Peacekeepers, which took place on May 29. India has been the largest supporter of the event and one of the largest contributors of troops, with around 5,900 troops currently deployed in 12 UN Missions. It has provided other types of support, such as hundreds of thousands of vaccines to peacekeeping troops across the world, and through the peacekeeping centers, helping troops to remain ahead of changes in the nature of threats and technologies. Indian Army troops have displayed exemplary professionalism, humane approaches, and courage, sometimes making the supreme sacrifice to defend UN mandates.
