(GIST OF YOJANA) Indian Knowledge system in Education

GIST OF YOJANA : Indian Knowledge system in Education

OCTOBER-2025

Indian Knowledge system in Education

Context:

The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 constitutes a landmark reform initiative in Indian education and serves as the country’s first major policy intervention in the 21st century. Its primary objective is to address the nation’s shifting developmental priorities by comprehensively transforming the structure and functioning of the education system. The policy calls for reimagining curricula, pedagogy, regulatory mechanisms, and governance frameworks to create an inclusive, flexible, and future-ready learning ecosystem.

Highlighting the aspects:

A significant aspect of NEP 2020 is its emphasis on integrating Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) into the curriculum at all levels, thereby reconnecting learners with India’s intellectual and cultural heritage.
This inclusion is intended to foster critical thinking, innovation, and a sense of rootedness among students.
NEP 2020 aligns with global objectives such as Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4), which advocates for equitable and quality education, while simultaneously drawing upon India’s traditions and value systems as guiding principles for educational reform.

Understanding Indian Knowledge Systems

Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS] is an umbrella term that encompasses the entire spectrum of India’s intellectual and cultural heritage. For a civilisation with over five millennia of recorded history and a vast collection of cultural artefacts, archaeological findings, literature, and social practices, defining the exact scope of IKS is an immense task.
It includes literary sources, cultural traditions, social customs, historical records, and other repositories of knowledge preserved across diverse Indian languages, dialects, and regions. Knowledge in any society evolves continuously, and hence, the intellectual contributions of India from prehistoric times to the present day collectively form what is considered IKS.

Pedagogical Approaches and Implementation

The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) is an autonomous organisation established by the Government of India in 1961 to improve the quality of school education across the country.
NCERT plays a vital role in designing curricula, developing and publishing textbooks, creating teaching-learning materials, conducting educational research, and providing training to teachers. Its textbooks widely used in CBSE schools and adopted by many state boards.
Apart from publishing textbooks, NCERT also develops digital resources such as e-Pathshala and DIKSHA, ensuring access to quality education in both print and digital formats.

Conclusion:

Revitalising education through the Indian Knowledge System is not just about preserving tradition but about reimagining learning in a holistic, sustainable, and globally significant way. By blending ancient wisdom with modern innovation, India can create an education system that nurtures intellectual growth, cultural pride, and ethical values, preparing students to become responsible citizens of the world.