UGC drafts guidelines to incorporate Indian Knowledge Systems in UG, PG courses

NEW DELHI: The University Grants Commission (UGC) has drafted guidelines for incorporating Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) in higher education curriculum. The commission asked the universities to prepare courses and programmes according to the guidelines. UGC asked the educational institutions to give suggestions on the draft guidelines by April 30.

“The draft "Guidelines for lncorporating lndian Knowledge System in Higher Education Curricula" are available on the UGC website www.ugc.ac.in. Feedback/suggestions are invited from the stakeholders and the same may be sent on the e-mail: ugc.iks@gmail.com latest by 30.04.2023,” said UGC in an official notification.

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The commission said that the step will help preserve India’s heritage by including it in academic courses and curriculum. “lndia's Knowledge Systems have the potential to provide pertinent reflections to aspiring students to develop their leadership and problem-solving skills, charting a future course of action with its integration within existing educational frameworks,” UGC statement added.

UGC’s draft guidelines on introducing IKS in UG, PG courses

Guidelines for UG courses

• All the students who are enrolled in the four-year UG programmes should be encouraged to take an adequate number of courses in IKS so that the total credits of the courses taken in IKS amount to at least five per cent of the total mandated credits. The students may be encouraged to take these courses, preferably during the first four semesters of the UG programme.
• All the students should take a foundational course in Indian Knowledge System, which is designed to present an overall introduction to all the streams of IKS relevant to the UG programme.
• All UG-teaching institutions should offer a large number of elective courses in IKS, from which the students may choose appropriately so as to complete a requisite number of courses and credits in IKS.
• The students may be allowed to opt for internship or apprenticeship in any of the disciplines or topics that are part of IKS.
• Wherever possible, the students may be encouraged to choose a suitable topic related to IKS for their project work in the 7th or 8th semesters of the UG programme.
• Students who are enrolled in UG programmes in medicine may take a credit course in the first year on Indian systems of medicine, which will provide them with a “basic understanding of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy”. During the second year, the students may take a two-semester credit course on the theory and practice of any one of the Indian systems of medicine.
• These provisions may be incorporated into the curricular framework for the respective programmes with the approval of the competent authority of the higher educational institutions or the concerned professional councils.

Guidelines for IKS courses at the PG Level

• All the students studying for PG programmes in arts, commerce and sciences should take an adequate number of advanced credit courses in any of the disciplines or topics that are part of IKS and related to their subject of specialization so that the total credits of the courses taken by the student in IKS amount to at least five percent of the total mandated credits.
• The students may be allowed to opt for taking additional courses in disciplines or topics that are part of IKS if such an option is available and is consistent with the requirements of the PG programme.