Yoga: as a soft power in India’s diplomacy

Open SearchJune 23, 2025

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Yoga: as a soft power in India’s diplomacy

“In today’s world, it’s not the size of the bigger army that wins, it’s the country that tells a better story that prevails.” – Shashi Tharoor
India, an exploding kaleidoscope of intense impressions as mentioned by a German diplomat Walter J. Lindner, a country of rich cultural heritage possess a powerful asset of attraction that is Yoga. Harvard professor Joseph Nye defined ‘soft power’ as the ability to get what you want through attraction rather than coercion or payment.” Yoga justifies this aspect tremendously.
Yoga traces its origins to 5000 years old Indian physical, mental and spiritual practices that aim to transform mind, body and soul. One of the bigger misconceptions about yoga is that it is all about asana (Hatha Yoga) and as a means to be physically fit. The contemporary traditions of yoga has its roots in the foundational text of Yoga sutras by Patanjali. A Sanskrit phrase from Patanjali’s yoga sutras “Yoga Chitta Vritti Nirodha” often refers to still the mind in order to experience ultimate reality and move towards self-realization.
In the era of Industrial revolution 4.0(Pointed by Dr. Joseph K. Thomas) and rat race, a significant portion of world population is becoming prone to mental health disorders. In 2019, WHO reported that 970 million people worldwide were living with mental disorders. Yoga is a counterpoint to the fast-paced life. Yoga is a piece of Indian soul which now plays a major role in soft power diplomacy.
It’s more than a cliché that India’s cultural heritage and pluralism are its strengths. Oliver Schulz in his book ‘New world power India’ mentions-“If you want to win India as a partner today, you are faced with a headstrong and self-confident country.” We have the potential to be world leaders not only in economic terms, but also in soft power as a free, dynamic and vibrant nation. With the propaganda of ‘Less government and more governance’ and Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam our PM Narender Modi proposed a draft resolution at the 69th session of the General Assembly in 2014 in which he addressed the remarkable benefits of yoga and portrayed it as an invaluable gift from our ancient traditions to the world. The resolution as expected received a broad global support and endorsed by a record of 175 member states. On 11th December 2014, the United Nations declared 21 June as the International Yoga Day by resolution 69/131.
As the whole world is excitedly looking forward to celebrate the 11th International Yoga Day, our PM has announced the theme of Yoga day 2025 as ‘Yoga for one earth one health’. The theme clearly points to Yoga as an example of adaptation and advancement on the outside, while preserving Indian Traditions and values on the inside.
The historic day of 2014 (recognition) as International Yoga Day is being made unforgettable through astronomical participation all over the world. It is being adapted and advanced enormously through establishment of various yoga schools, centers, workshops and its amalgamation with emerging fitness trends like Pilates. Some recent examples and efforts are:
Being the host of G-20 Summit in 2023, India propagated it’s cultural spirit that is yoga and appealed everyone to acknowledge the power of yoga and ayurveda. “Buddha, not yuddha” the sacrosanct diplomacy of India is being totally justified through the overwhelming response towards yoga. In 2023, the International Day of Yoga celebration at the United Nations headquarters created a Guinness World Record for the participation of yoga enthusiasts of most nationalities is the testimony of India’s soft power. The worldwide statistics totally align with the increasing popularity of yoga. 300 million people across the world are yoga practitioners with the USA, India and China being on the top. Every year around $16 billion are spent by Americans on equipments, classes and accessories. Currently, the 10 unique signature events to guide events to International day of yoga are Yoga Sangama; Yoga Bandhan; Yoga Parks; Yoga Samavesh; Yoga Prabhava; Yoga Connect; Harit yoga; Yoga unplugged, Yoga Maha kumbh, Samyogam (reports by the AYUSH ministry).
The events, along with the overwhelming global response, mark significant steps towards setting a benchmark in the yoga revolution, enhancing both tangible and intangible assets.
Major initiatives have been launched by Indian government like Make in India, Skill India, Startup India, Tourism India to achieve the target of developed India by 2047. Currently, India is the 4th largest economy in the world with the nominal GDP of $4.19 trillion. However, a fly in the ointment remains. The fact can’t be denied that India needs to surpass various hurdles in order to become the developed nation. Yoga, India’s most ubiquitous cultural export is contributing significantly to the India’s GDP.
Yoga classes generate a profound amount of revenue. Global corona virus pandemic has shifted the focus towards the ancient wellness practice of yoga. Currently, the yoga industry is worth of $80 billion worldwide. However, unfortunately yoga industry sale in India is just around 3-5% of the world. But the good news is that according to the reports of ASSOCHAM(Associated chambers of Commerce and Industry of India), it is expected that yoga in India will grow 35% in the upcoming years. Someone rightly said- “ Rishikesh where the mountains meet the river and the soul meets the universe.” Rishikesh, popularly known as the Yoga capital of India enhanced the tourism sector of India. Yoga tourism involves: Yoga for wellness; Yoga study; Yogas for spirituality; Yoga as a sport. According to Grand View Research, the India Yoga tourism market was valued at $9,348.2 million in 2021 and is expected to reach $14,634.9 million by 2030. The rising demand of yoga mats, equipments and other ayurvedic products is further boosting the growth of Yoga economy in India.
With the consecutive growth rate of Yoga industry, it has occupied pivotal importance in the global wellness market creating number of opportunities in this field. However India has not yet fully tapped into the potential of its heritage. For example- Yoga diplomacy may sometimes be seen as masking political agendas. The ancient tradition of yoga have been overshadowed by its western commercialization. Yoga tourism involves various challenges like unregulated institutions, lack of infrastructure and safety, environmental problems etc. Despite the various challenges, Yoga diplomacy has played a vital role in enhancing India’s global image and soft power. Persistent efforts by the government of India and yoga instructors are helping to overcome these challenges.
“As Mcdonalisation fades, Yoganisation emerges.” Let’s contribute our efforts towards magnifying yoga diplomacy or India’s soft power diplomacy.

-Name- Tanisha
College – Gargi college (3rd year)
Course- Ba program (Political science and history)

References:
‘What the West should learn from India’ book by Walter J. Lindner
‘New World Power India’ book by Oliver Schulz
‘India: the new superpower’ book by Joseph K. Thomas
http://www.un.org
http://ayush.govt.in
http://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=211689