Reviving Indian Knowledge Systems in Higher Education

Alignment with the National Education Policy 2020

Abstract

India's rich intellectual tradition, incorporated in its diverse Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS), has for centuries contributed to global thought across disciplines such as philosophy, mathematics, medicine, linguistics, architecture, and ecology. However, colonial educational policies and post-independence academic trends led to the marginalization of these indigenous systems. The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 represents a strategic turning point, seeking to reintegrate IKS into the fabric of Indian higher education. This paper explores the historical significance of IKS, the disruptions it faced during colonial rule, and how NEP 2020 provides a framework for its revival. Through an analysis of policy provisions, institutional reforms, curriculum innovations, and teacher training strategies, the study evaluates both the potential and the challenges of embedding IKS within modern academia. It concludes by offering actionable recommendations to ensure a meaningful and sustainable integration that enriches higher education and contributes to India’s cultural resurgence and knowledge leadership on the global stage.