The Union Government led by BJP (Bhartiya Janata Party) has added lessons from Bhagavad Geeta (Hindu Holy Book) in the NCERT Curriculum for classes VI and VII, while its shoklas (hymns) will be included in the textbooks for classes XI and XII (11th and 12 standards), according to information provided to the Lok Sabha (lower House of the Indian Parliament).
In a written response, the Minister of State for Education, Annapurna Devi, stated that the ministry had established the Indian Knowledge System (IKS) Division in the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) in 2020 "with a vision to promote interdisciplinary and trans-disciplinary research on all aspects of Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS), preserve, and disseminate IKS knowledge for further research and societal applications."
She went on to say that the traditional knowledge of India, which is referenced in the National Education Policy (NEP) 2022 Para 4.27, is both sustainable and works towards the welfare of all people.
She said that the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has started the development of National Curriculum Frameworks, inviting input from a range of stakeholders, including different ministries, departments, states, and union territories, pulling from grassroots levels.
“We must comprehend our legacy and impart the ‘Indian way’ of doing things to the outside world if we hope to become the knowledge power of the twenty-first century,” she said.