Implementation of Indian Knowledge Systems in Higher Education: An Assessment Under NEP 2020

AKRURA BAIRAGI

doi:10.36948/ijfmr.2026.v08i04.85922

Implementation of Indian Knowledge Systems in Higher Education: An Assessment Under NEP 2020

Author(s)	Mr. AKRURA BAIRAGI
Country	India
Abstract	The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 marks a significant turning point in the history of Indian education by formally recognising the value of Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) and mandating their integration into the higher education curriculum. IKS represents the accumulated body of knowledge, philosophy, science, art, and practice that has evolved in the Indian subcontinent over several millennia, spanning disciplines such as mathematics, astronomy, medicine (Ayurveda), linguistics, architecture, governance, and the performing arts. This article examines the policy architecture created for the implementation of IKS in higher education institutions (HEIs), the institutional mechanisms established for this purpose, and the extent to which these provisions have translated into curricular and pedagogical practice. Adopting a descriptive-analytical research design based on secondary sources — including the NEP 2020 document, guidelines issued by the Ministry of Education, the University Grants Commission (UGC), and the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), along with peer-reviewed literature and institutional reports — the study traces the establishment of the IKS Division at AICTE, the mandatory credit-based IKS courses, the growth of dedicated IKS centres, and related capacity-building initiatives. The analysis reveals considerable progress in policy formulation and infrastructure creation, alongside persistent challenges relating to faculty preparedness, curricular standardisation, regional disparity, and the risk of superficial or tokenistic implementation. The article concludes with recommendations for strengthening faculty development, ensuring academic rigour, and building robust monitoring mechanisms so that the integration of IKS contributes meaningfully to a more holistic, rooted, and globally relevant system of higher education in India.
Keywords	Indian Knowledge Systems, National Education Policy 2020, Higher Education, Curriculum Integration, AICTE, UGC, Multidisciplinary Education, Educational Policy
Field	Sociology > Education
Published In	Volume 8, Issue 4, July-August 2026
Published On	2026-08-19
DOI	https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2026.v08i04.85922

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Implementation of Indian Knowledge Systems in Higher Education: An Assessment Under NEP 2020

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