Indian Knowledge System: Advocacy and Challenges

Knowledge System: Advocacy and Challenges

Proponents of the Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) under the National Education Policy (NEP 2020), such as Prakash (2025), aim to rejuvenate Indian Heritage (Arvind Prakash, Indian Knowledge System and NEP 2020: Reviving Heritage through Education Policy, Scholarly Research Journal for Interdisciplinary Studies, SRJIS, July 1, 2025) by incorporating traditional Indian wisdom, which encompasses Jnan (self-knowledge), Vignan (worldly knowledge), and Jeevan Darshan (philosophy of life), into contemporary curricula. This initiative seeks to promote the holistic development of learners by offering a value-based educational experience.

The proposed implementation strategy involves the integration of traditional knowledge, including scriptural studies, yoga, Ayurveda, traditional culture and classical arts, into both school and higher education curricula. The objective is to bridge the divide between traditional ancient wisdom and the modern requirements for employable skills, thereby enhancing critical thinking and reinforcing cultural identity.

Nevertheless, it has been pointed out that the effective incorporation of IKS into educational programmes necessitates overcoming challenges such as the training of teachers, educators, and researchers in IKS, as well as the validation of traditional knowledge against contemporary scientific principles. Therefore, the challenge lies in ensuring that while the policy has created opportunities to revive India’s intellectual heritage, its success will hinge on the practical, inclusive, and meaningful implementation of the IKS components and concepts in classrooms across the educational continuum.