Lok Sabha Question No. 2397 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-15
Subject: Study and Research in Vedic Astrology
Ministry: EDUCATION
Asked by: Shri Parshottambhai Rupala

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

## LOKSABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2397

ANSWERED ON 15.12.2025

## Study and Research in Vedic Astrology

2397. Shri Parshottambhai Rupala:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that the Hon'ble Bombay High Court has remarked that astrology is a science and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)  the  details  of  the  action  taken  or  proposed  to  be  taken  by  the  Government  to  promote genuine Study and Research in Vedic Astrology and to establish a Standing Advisory Board for Astronomy; and
- (c)  the  details  of  the  initiatives  taken  by  the  Government  in  collaboration  with  relevant stakeholders  to  oversee  the  rapidly  expanding  Astrological  Sector  and  check  fraudulent activities by unscrupulous Astrologers, especially those providing online astrology consultations?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR)

(a) to (c): As per the Constitution of India, education is a subject listed in the Concurrent List empowering  both  the  Union  government  and  the  State  governments  to  legislate  on educational matters.

The  Government  of  India  promotes  research  and  study  of  India's  traditional  knowledge systems,  including  Vedic  sciences,  through  academic,  research,  and  institutional  measures. The University Grants Commission (UGC) has formulated guidelines for the introduction of courses based on Indian Heritage and Culture, including astrology & vedic mathematics and has  requested  all  Higher  Educational  Institutions  (HEIs)  to  take  necessary  steps  as  per guidelines.

Ministry  of  Education  has  approved  a  central  sector  scheme  'Indian  Knowledge  Systems (IKS)' with an outlay of Rs. 405.78 Cr for the next five year commencing from 01.04.2025 to 31.03.2030. Under the IKS scheme, various research projects and internships in observational astronomy (Drik Jyotisha), and model based astronomy (Siddhanta Jyotisha) for Panchanga calculations, and corrections to calendar systems have been supported.

The  Government  of  India  has  approved  the  'Gyan  Bharatam  Mission'  a  Central  Sector Scheme with an aim to preserve, document, and disseminate India's rich manuscript heritage for  the  period  2024-31  with  a  total  allocation  of  ₹482.85  crores  and  with  over  44.07  lakh manuscripts already documented in the Kriti Sampada digital repository.

The Department of Science & Technology (DST) promotes astronomical research through its supported institutes including the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) and the Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES).

The IT Rules, 2021 cast the obligations on the intermediary platforms to not allow hosting, sharing, uploading, transmitting, etc. of any prohibited information that includes information which  is  misinformation  and  patently  false  information  on  the  Indian  Internet  or  that impersonates another person.

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