Lok Sabha Question No. 1011 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-29
Subject: Scientific Achievements in Schools and College Curriculum
Ministry: EDUCATION
Asked by: Shri Vishnu Datt Sharma

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1011 ANSWERED ON 29.07.2024

## Scientific Achievements in Schools and College Curriculum

1011 Shri Vishnu Datt Sharma:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has not given space, in school and college curriculum, to pioneering and  foundational  scientific  achievements  of  Indians  like  Aryabhata's  discovery  of  Pi  & Heliocentric  model,  Brahmagupta's  theory  of  gravitation,  Kanad's  atomic  theory,  Sushrut's  on surgery  and  earliest  advances  made  in  trigonometry,  geometry,  metallurgy,  chemistry  and medical sciences etc.;

(b) if so, whether the Government has given disproportionately large space, in school and college curriculum, to much late started, so called, pioneering western scientific achievements;

(c)  if  so,  the  details  of  corrective  measures  being  contemplated  or  being  taken  by  the Government in this regard; and

(d) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION ( SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY )

(a) to (d) The National Education Policy (NEP), 2020, inter-alia , draws inspiration from Indian Knowledge Systems which manifests itself in world-class institutions of ancient India such as Takshashila, Nalanda, Vikramshila, Vallabhi which set the highest standards of multidisciplinary  teaching  and  research  and  hosted  scholars  and  students  from  across  all backgrounds and many countries. The Indian Education System produced great scholars such as Charaka, Susruta, Aryabhata, Varahamihira, Bhaskaracharya, Brahmagupta, Chanakya, Chakrapani  Datta,  Madhava,  Panini,  Patanjali,  Nagarjuna,  Gautama,  Pingala,  Sankardev, Maitreyi, Gargi and Thiruvalluvar, among numerous others, who made seminal contributions to world knowledge in diverse fields such as mathematics, astronomy, metallurgy, medical science and surgery, civil engineering, architecture, shipbuilding and navigation, yoga, fine arts, chess, and more. Indian culture and philosophy have had a strong influence on the world. These rich legacies  to  world  heritage  must  not  only  be  nurtured  and  preserved  for  posterity  but  also researched, enhanced, and put to new uses through our education system.

As  a  follow-up  of  NEP,  2020,  the  National  Council  of  Educational  Research  and  Training (NCERT)  has  developed  National  Curriculum  Framework  for  School  Education  (NCF-SE), 2023 which prescribe a balanced approach in including the achievements of people from India and  all  over  the  world.  Accordingly,  the  National  Syllabus  and  Teaching-Learning  Material Committee (NSTC) has been constituted by NCERT to develop the school textbooks.

The Universities  have  the  autonomy  to  frame  their  respective  courses/curricula/syllabi  as  per their  statutes/ordinances/rules.  However,  the  Curriculum  and  Credit  Framework  for  Under Graduate  (UG)  Programmes  contains  value-added  courses  for  all  UG  students.  One  of  the modules is 'Understanding India'. This module enables the students to acquire and demonstrate knowledge  and  understanding  of  contemporary  India  with  its  historical  perspective,  Indian knowledge system (IKS), etc.

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