Lok Sabha Question No. 2396 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-18
Subject: To Promote the Value of Indian Culture
Ministry: Education
Asked by: Vinod Chavda, Durga Das Uikey, Janardan Mishra

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO2396

ANSWERED ON- 18/12/2023

## TO PROMOTE THE VALUE OF INDIAN CULTURE

†2396. SHRI VINOD L. CHAVDA: SHRI DURGA DAS (D.D.) UIKEY: SHRI JANARDAN MISHRA:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has taken steps/ proposes to take steps to promote the value of Indian Culture in Education; and

(b) the reaction of the State Governments thereto?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (DR. SUBHAS SARKAR)

(a)  and  (b):  The  National  Education  Policy  (NEP),  2020  envisions  that  the  promotion  of Indian arts and culture is important not only for the nation but also for the individual. Cultural awareness  and  expression  are  among  the  major  competencies  considered  important  to develop in children, in order to provide them with a sense of identity, belonging, as well as an appreciation of other cultures and identities. It is through the development of a strong sense and knowledge of their own cultural history, arts, languages, and traditions that children can build a positive cultural identity and self-esteem. Thus, cultural awareness and expression are important  contributors  both  to  individual  as  well  as  societal  well-being.  The  University Grants  Commission  (UGC)  have  issued  guidelines  for  incorporating  Indian  culture  and knowledge in Higher Education Curricula. It prescribes that every student enrolled in a UG or PG programme should  be  encouraged  to  take  credit  courses  in  Indian  Knowledge  System (IKS) amounting in all to at least 5% of the total mandated credits (interested students may be allowed to take a larger fraction of the total mandated credits). The UGC have further issued guidelines for training/ orientation of faculty on IKS, guidelines for empanelment of artists/ artisans-in-residence in higher educational institutions and guidelines for the introduction of courses based on Indian heritage and culture. In addition, the following initiatives have also been undertaken in this aspect:

- a. Provision of awarding minor degree to students who completes 18 to 20 credits in IKS has been made.
- b. 53  IKS  Centres  to  catalyse  original  research,  education  and  dissemination  of  IKS have been established.
- c. 88  high  end  inter-disciplinary research  like  ancient  metallurgy,  ancient  town planning and water resource management, ancient rasayan-shastra etc. projects have been undertaken.
- d. Around 5200 internships on IKS have been offered.
- e. More than  8000  HEIs  in  various  States/UTs  have  started  adopting  IKS  into  their curriculum.
- f. More  than  80  post-doctoral  fellowships,  senior  fellowships  and  research  projects regarding  different  aspects  of  value  of  Indian  culture  in  education  in  different States/UTs  has  been  awarded  by  the  Indian  Council  of  Social  Science  Research (ICSSR), Delhi.

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