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.