Karnataka: UGC directive to incorporate IKS in higher education curricula faces opposition
Opposition is brewing among academics, educationists, and progressive organisations regarding the University Grant Commission (UGC) mandate to incorporate Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) in the higher education system.
With an aim to introduce ancient Indian culture to students, the UGC has instructed to incorporate IKS in all undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) courses based on the guidelines released in March 2023.
UGC has also taken steps to award credit points to students taking IKS. 'At least 50% of the credits apportioned to the IKS should be related to the major discipline and should be accounted for the credits assigned to the major discipline,' the UGC has said.
Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU) has already implemented IKS in engineering courses from the fourth semester and has taken steps to conduct exams for 50 marks.
As per the guidelines, the UGC has prescribed 18 courses in model curricula in IKS, including Indian Health Sciences, and Indian astronomy. The foundation course of IKS includes the topic of Foundational Literature of Indian Civilisation, the Vedic Corpus, Ramayana and Mahabharata, and their important regional versions, the role of 'Itihasas' and 'Puranas' in understanding the Vedas and Vedangas and others.
In Indian languages, emphasis is given to Sanskrit and its grammar. 'Vedic maths' has been emphasised. Indian astronomy, , panchanga, lagana, and its computations, and others have been included.
However, educationists and progressive organisations have expressed objections to the topics included in IKS, alleging that its real purpose is to spread Hindutva ideology and Brahminical values among students.
Speaking to The Hindu, Mavalli Shankar, convenor of Dalt Sagharasha Samiti (DSS), said, 'Earlier, when Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the Prime Minister, the then Human Resource Development Minister Murli Manohar Joshi had facilitated the teaching of astrology and other topics in the name of IKS in universities. Now the BJP-led Union government is glorifying one religion to saffronise our education system.'
'The UGC has mentioned the Ramayana, Mahabharata, and Puranas in its guidelines under the topic of Foundational Literature of Indian Civilisation. These are fictional stories and have no connection with Indian civilisation. Is IKS only related to the Hindu religion?' he asked.
'Incorporating IKS higher education curricula is nothing but an attempt to destroy the efforts made in independent India to build a strong modern education based on systematic research, knowledge, and scientific foundation,' Development Educationist Niranjanaradhya V.P., said.
'This can hinder the development of a scientific mindset and scientific inquiry, and often focuses only on a myopic Hindu-centric view of ancient India. This is a violation of Article 51 A (h) of the Constitution that mandates a duty to develop the scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform,' he said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hans India
35 minutes ago
- Hans India
Jaishankar reaffirms India's zero-tolerance policy on terrorism
New Delhi: India expects partners to understand its policy of "zero tolerance" against terrorism, and it will never countenance "perpetrators of evil" being put on par with its victims, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Saturday during extensive talks with his British counterpart David Lammy. Jaishankar's remarks, which seemed to be an attempt to send an unambiguous message to the global community, came against the backdrop of unease in New Delhi over several countries hyphenating India and Pakistan following their four-day clashes last month. Lammy arrived in New Delhi on Saturday morning on a two-day visit to review various aspects of the strategic partnership between the two countries. A British readout said bolstering economic and migration ties and delivering further growth opportunities for British businesses are set to be at the top of the UK foreign secretary's visit to India. Before holding talks with Jaishankar, the British foreign secretary met Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In his televised opening remarks at the meeting with Lammy, Jaishankar thanked the UK for its strong condemnation of the "barbaric" Pahalgam terror attack and London's solidarity and support to New Delhi's fight against terrorism. "We practice a policy of zero tolerance against terrorism and expect our partners to understand it, and we will never countenance perpetrators of evil being put at par with its victims," he said. It is understood that the Indian side explained its challenge of dealing with cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan. The UK was among the countries which were in touch with both India and Pakistan in an attempt to de-escalate tensions during their military conflict from May 7-10. Lammy paid a two-day visit to Islamabad from May 16, during which he welcomed the May 10 understanding between India and Pakistan to stop the military actions. Jaishankar also described the recently finalised India-UK free trade deal and the double contribution convention as "truly a milestone". "The recent conclusion of the India-UK FTA and the double contribution convention is truly a milestone which will not only propel our two-way trade and investment but will also have a positive effect on other strategic aspects of our bilateral ties," Jaishankar said.
Mint
41 minutes ago
- Mint
Trump says Xi agreed to restart the flow of rare earth minerals. Why are rare earths important for Chinese economy?
U.S. President Donald Trump told news agencies on Friday, 6 June 2025, that China's Xi Jinping has agreed to allow the export of rare earth minerals and magnets to the United States after a new round of talks amid the ongoing trade war. 'Yes, he did,' responded President Donald Trump when a reporter onboard Air Force One asked him about Xi's agreement on the rare earth deal. Trump reassured people that the US-China talks have resulted in a 'very positive conclusion,' which aims to make rare earth minerals no longer a topic of question. 'We're very far advanced on the China deal,' said Donald Trump, cited by the news agency Reuters. The Asian nation has also granted temporary export licenses to rare-earth suppliers of the top three automakers in the United States, reported the news agency, citing people aware of the development. According to Mint's earlier report, China imposed restrictions on its global export of rare earth minerals and magnets in April 2025. Although these restrictions came forth amid the ongoing trade and tariff war between the United States and other world nations, they are not specific to the US but apply to all other nations. Foreign companies like Tesla, Lockheed Martin, etc, from the aerospace, semiconductors, electronics, consumer goods, weapons, and auto sectors are the ones who are affected by this export curb, as they heavily rely on foreign imports for their component manufacturing. Indian automakers and clean energy companies have also suffered as China dominates the market for these rare earth commodities, and export curbs jeopardise the supply chains of many firms around the world. According to the Centre for Strategic & International Studies data, China refines over 92 per cent of the world's rare earth minerals, establishing a global dominance in the sector over other nations. Rare earth materials are used to manufacture many things which people rely on on a daily basis, from smartphone components to wind turbines. According to the news agency Reuters' report, apart from the 92 per cent production, the Asian nation also contributes to nearly 60 per cent of the global rare earth mine production. Several companies around the world are dependent upon the Chinese exports of these rare earth materials for use in the production of other finished goods. These rare earth metals, such as Cerium oxide, Bastnasite, Neodymium oxide, Lanthanum carbonate, Praseodymium, Dysprosium, and Terbium, are among other metals and magnets used to make commodities such as Batteries, Aircraft components, Electric Vehicles (EVs), Solar Cells, Wind Turbines, etc. According to an agency report, the world has 17 elements, including 15 silvery-white metals. The rarity of these materials is determined by the quality of them found in the Earth's crust. As there are very few deposits spread across the world, for China, this acts as a factor to assert global dominance. Data collected from Statista shows that the annual export value of China's rare earths was around $488.8 million. This has dropped marginally over 54 per cent when compared to its 2022 levels of $1,046.8 million. According to an earlier agency report, China restricted at least 16 minerals and related products since 2023, the latest ones coming after the nation retaliated against the US over the tariff war.
Hans India
an hour ago
- Hans India
India needs inclusive, resilient Viksit Bharat in the real sense of the term
It is difficult to say if today's India is aware of what celebrated economist Raj Krishna dubbed as 'Hindu rate of growth' in 1978 to describe the country's sluggish economic advancement, which averaged around 3.5 per cent per annum from 1950s to the 1980s. As a newly independent nation, India faced numerous challenges, the most pressing of which was the widespread socio-economic deprivation affecting a vast majority of its population. Land and education, two critical components for individual progress, were largely controlled by a privileged few. Deep-rooted issues such as untouchability, poverty, and caste and religion-based discrimination by the privileged against the underprivileged posed significant obstacles to the country's holistic development. It was our electoral democracy – government by the people, for the people, and of the people – which emerged as a beacon of hope for millions of men and women seeking dignity, equality, and opportunity in free India, for which we should be ever grateful to Bharat Ratna Dr B R Ambedkar. Though struggle continues even today, we have traversed a long distance in our collective pursuits to realize the goal of inclusive development. Unfortunately, income and wealth disparities among our people continue to widen. The task of equitable distribution of national resources, opportunities, facilities, privileges, and responsibilities among all in proportion to their population still remains colossal. Thanks to our affirmative measures such as reservation in government jobs and in admissions in public sector educational institutions, we have been able to add some critical value to the idea of unity and prosperity in diversity, the very foundation of our nation. It is, therefore, necessary to maintain the momentum of debate and discussion about wholesome inclusive development of India as we are moving towards celebrating the centenary of our Independence in 2047. One may not be sure if we become a $30 trillion economy by then but we must not be lacking in our honest efforts in this regard. In a policy paper of NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India Aayog) brought out in May 2023, Dr Arvind Virmani, a celebrated economist, talked of 'Bharatiya Model of Inclusive Development - Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas.' According to him, 'the Indian model of inclusive growth, viewed from a development economics perspective, has three pillars - market economics, empowerment, and pragmatism.' He also briefly dwelt on 'market competition, oligopoly and monopoly, public and welfare economics' among other things. He also referred to 'the communist-socialist, command and control approach to economy, which many educated intellectuals and academics favoured for almost half a century after independence' and stated that 'individual initiative including involuntarily formed groups, are the drivers of economic growth and employment generation, not the government. Government can be the enabler and facilitator and must ensure equal opportunity for all.' Under the sub-head 'Antyodaya Welfarism,' Dr Virmani writes: 'Antyodaya empowerment is the Indian competitor to the European Welfare state. The Bharatiya Welfare State focuses on the lowest rungs of society, socio-economic development, and income levels, as Mahatma Gandhi said: 'Recall the face of the poorest and weakest man you have seen and ask yourself if this step you contemplate is going to be of any use to him.' This is something on which an overwhelming majority of the public, every community, socioeconomic group, and political party has agreed-on. The Bharatiya approach to social welfare is multi-faceted, including direct transfers to recipients and indirect subsidies through service providers, cash transfers and in-kind transfers such as free or below market price provision of goods and services such as scholarships and a broad range of basic needs.' Unfortunately, Dr Virmani did not even briefly talk about high level of health, wealth, education and justice deprivation among the country's major social groups such as SCs, STs, OBCs, and minorities even after so many decades of Independence, though they account for the country's not less than 85 per cent population. They continue to struggle with chronic problems such as malnutrition, poverty and lack of quality education. They are still not in a position to assert their social identity, and hence are forced to lead a life of anonymity in many cases. A large number of poor people from among them are languishing in jails for years for committing petty offences, an issue which President Droupadi Murmu herself flagged in her valedictory address at the Constitution Day celebrations organised by the Supreme Court of India in New Delhi on November 26, 2022. The Bharatiya development model focussed on 'sustained, fast, inclusive growth where inclusive means all round development of the society and empowerment of every citizen, to develop own capabilities and competence through application of mind and effort' won't be possible if the Central and state governments do not spend adequately on imparting quality and competitive education to children from weaker sections of society, right from schooling to higher education. At the moment, there is an abysmal level of gross enrolment ratio (GER) among them. Majority of them have degrees but not skills and vice versa. Thus, they are caught in such a vicious circle that they don't know how to get out of that. After all, they have to feed their families as well, and whatever little bit they have in the name of savings, that is spent on making a house and children's marriage. For education, they are solely dependent upon the facilities in the public sector, the condition of which is known to all. It is, therefore, necessary for all stakeholders including writers, public policy experts, economists, businessmen, corporate entities and the elite among us to come forward and contribute to building an inclusive and resilient Viksit Bharat in the real sense of the term. A special request for the private sector – they need to make affirmative policy an integral part of their recruitments. Today students from deprived social groups have limited access to well-paid jobs in the private sector, not because they are not lacking in merit and other wherewithal but because of the poor transparency in the recruitment processes. If I correctly remember, India Inc had agreed in principle to give preference to the candidates from socially and education backward classes while making recruitments when former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh led UPA government wanted to introduce quotas in the private sector. Neither quota nor preferential treatment, the white collar jobs in the private sector remain the fiefdom of a few among us. Who cares! Perhaps, none!
