National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and Indian Knowledge System (IKS): Conceptual Integration and Pragmatic Prospects in Contemporary School Education

Author(s): Dr. Vinod Prakash Tiwari

Abstract:

The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 marks an epochal paradigm shift in the history of the Indian education ecosystem. Its core objective is to dismantle the residual hegemony of colonial Macaulay and pedagogy and anchor contemporary learning within indigenous epistemological and cultural matrices. The cornerstone of this policy design is the systemic integration of the Indian Knowledge System (IKS) into the mainstream school curriculum. Characterized by a strictly qualitative-theoretical framework, this conceptual paper deliberately bypasses empirical-statistical metrics to undertake a critical-analytical examination of foundational indigenous paradigms such as Upanishad epistemology, the Panchakosha model of holistic personality development, and classical axiological principles in alignment with the mandates of NEP 2020. Adopting a rigorous methodology of documentary analysis and textual hermeneutics, the study evaluates the official policy text alongside authentic commentaries on classical texts and contemporary pedagogical critiques. The conceptual synthesis reveals that the Indian Knowledge System transcends mere antiquarian romanticism, rather, it provides highly logical, viable frameworks for fostering core 21st-century competencies, including critical thinking, ecological sensitivity, cross-disciplinary flexibility, and psychological well-being. Furthermore, this paper delineates a structured strategy to embed IKS into the contemporary three-tier school matrix without imposing cognitive overload on learners. Finally, it outlines pragmatic recommendations for the conceptual sensitization of teacher educators and macro-level curricular restructuring, asserting that education must evolve from a mere instrument of livelihood into a vehicle for total human emancipation.

keywords:
Indian Knowledge System (IKS), NEP 2020, Theoretical Paradigm, Panchakosha Theory, Value-Based Pedagogy.

Pages: 104-107     |    16 View     |    2 Download