JNU to Teach Indian Knowledge Traditions Across all Schools and Centres

Students across all disciplines at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), including engineering and management, will study traditional Indian knowledge as part of a newly introduced elective course, according to varsity sources.

All schools and centers will provide the course, and each department will tailor the material to fit its own field.

Indigenous knowledge systems that have been established in India over many centuries, including Vedic sciences, ancient engineering, traditional medicine, and philosophical writings, are referred to as “Indian Knowledge Traditions.”

In an attempt to introduce students to India’s intellectual legacy and values, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has been pushing for the inclusion of IKT in academic curricula.

According to the source, engineering students at JNU will study conventional engineering procedures, while management students may take a new course that explores historical economic and administrative systems.

Schools and centres will design syllabi tailored to their disciplines, ensuring relevance for students across various academic backgrounds, they added.

The university approved the proposal during a meeting last month and has asked all schools to submit their suggestions for finalising the syllabus.

The elective may be introduced as an extra course alongside students’ primary areas of study starting in the upcoming academic year, according to reports.

These electives will be worth academic credit, and according to UGC guidelines, IKT courses should account for 5% of a student’s overall undergraduate and graduate credits.

Recently, JNU also set up centers for Buddhist, Jain, and Hindu studies on campus to promote India’s traditional knowledge systems.

Each of JNU’s 13 schools has several centers devoted to specialized academic fields. Within these schools, there are 38 centers. In order to further improve its academic offerings, the university has also established eight specific centers.