GS1 – Society
Context:
Aryabhatta College’s initiative on Indian Knowledge Systems reflects the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020’s emphasis on integrating traditional Indian knowledge into modern higher education using scientific approaches.
About Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS):
- Launched by: Ministry of Education under NEP 2020.
- Objective: To revive India’s rich intellectual heritage and embed it within contemporary academic curricula.
Key Components and Functions:
- Establishment of Centres:
- Over 50 government-funded IKS centres have been set up across the country.
- Interdisciplinary Research:
- Promotes cross-institutional collaboration on interdisciplinary projects involving traditional knowledge.
- Formation of Research Groups:
- Supports creation and mentoring of subject-specific groups with scholars from multiple academic backgrounds.
- Knowledge Popularisation:
- Implements initiatives to promote IKS in public and academic discourse.
- Research Funding:
- Facilitates financial support for IKS-related studies and innovation.
- Policy Advocacy:
- Provides evidence-based policy inputs to support the growth of IKS within educational frameworks.
Suggestions for Enhancing IKS Integration:
- Ensure Academic Integrity:
- Emphasise peer-reviewed, evidence-based research to guard against pseudoscience.
- Promote Knowledge Diversity:
- Include non-Vedic traditions such as Buddhist, Jain, tribal, and regional knowledge systems.
- Voluntary Curriculum Integration:
- Offer IKS as elective and interdisciplinary courses to complement modern scientific subjects.
- Improve Accessibility:
- Develop multilingual, digital content and conduct Faculty Development Programmes (FDPs) to prepare educators.
- Maintain Transparency:
- Position IKS as a scholarly pursuit and encourage open dialogue with sceptics to build legitimacy.
- Continuous Course Evaluation:
- Implement robust feedback systems, third-party audits, and reviews to ensure course relevance and quality.