About Indian Knowledge Systems
NEP envisions that HEIs take into account the local and global needs of the country, and with a respect for and deference to its rich diversity and culture. India, which was a leader of knowledge in the ancient times, must continue to be the torchbearer and knowledge leader in the coming future. Activities that will be covered in this pillar are Development of Digital Content and content in Indian Languages, conducting exams in Indian languages and embedding IKS in the curriculum.
Promotion of Indian Knowledge by way of several initiatives aims to include knowledge of ancient India, its contributions to modern India in its successes and addressing challenges, with a clear sense of India’s future aspirations in the field of education, health, environment etc. A network of 51 IKS Centres has been established to drive original research, education, and dissemination of IKS. So far, 38 IKS courses across domains such as mathematics, astronomy, aesthetics, logic, health, and management have been offered in 12 institutions, while 88 interdisciplinary research projects are underway in areas like ancient metallurgy, town planning, water resource management, and Rasayanshastra.
To enhance student engagement, around 5,527 internships in IKS have been offered, along with 50+ workshops and national/international conferences. Over 8,000 HEIs have started adopting IKS into their curriculum, supported by the digitization of 1.5 lakh books. Faculty capacity building has also been prioritized, with 1,000 faculty members and 200 master trainers already trained by the IKS Division and UGC. In the next phase, training will be expanded to cover 10,000 faculty members and 1,000 research scholars, ensuring large-scale integration of IKS into India’s higher education landscape.
