Lok Sabha Question No. 2749 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-03-14
Subject: Development of Sanskrit
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: HUKUM SINGH, HEENA VIJAYKUMAR GAVIT, VIRENDRA  KUMAR, SUPRIYA SADANAND SULE, RODMAL NAGAR, VIJAYSINH MOHITE PATIL, RAJEEV SHANKARRAO SATAV, KIRIT PREMJIBHAI SOLANKI, DHANANJAY BHIMRAO MAHADIK, T. RADHAKRISHNAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 2749 TO BE ANSWERED ON 14.03.2016

## Development of Sanskrit

## 2749. SHRI HUKUM SINGH:

DR. HEENA VIJAYKUMAR GAVIT:

DR. VIRENDRA KUMAR:

SHRIMATI SUPRIYA SULE:

SHRI NAGAR RODMAL:

SHRI MOHITE PATIL VIJAYSINH SHANKARRAO:

SHRI SATAV RAJEEV:

DR. KIRIT P. SOLANKI:

SHRI DHANANJAY MAHADIK:

SHRI T. RADHAKRISHNAN:

Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the University Grants Commission (UGC) has sought suggestion from Universities regarding development and spread of Sanskrit and Hindi in secondary and higher education and if  so,  the  details  thereof  including  the  purpose  behind  the  move  and  the  response  of  each University in this regard;
- (b) the time by which it is likely to be implemented;
- (c) whether the University Grants Commission has asked the Universities in the States/UTs to prepare a database of teachers engaged in the teaching of Sanskrit to promote the subject and make tests available online and if so, the details and objectives thereof;
- (d) whether the New Education Policy, 1986 underlined the importance of Sanskrit and Hindi and recommended the bridging of gaps between the existing formal educational process and rich Indian culture and if so, the steps being taken by the Government for widespread propagation of Sanskrit and Hindi; and
- (e) the other steps taken/being taken by the Government to encourage the study of Sanskrit and Hindi at first and second degree levels in subjects such as Ancient Indian History, Modern Indian Languages, Indology and Indian philosophy?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

## (SMT. SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

- (a)  &  (b):  Yes,  Madam.  The  University  Grants  Commission  (UGC)  has  informed  that  it  has requested,  on  6 th January,  2016,  the  Vice-Chancellors  of  18  universities  for  suggestions  and views  regarding  development  and  spread  of  Sanskrit  right  from  the  school  up  to  the  higher education levels. The UGC letter is at http://www.ugc.ac.in/pdfnews/2168590\_UGC-Notice-reg-

Sanskrit0001.pdf. The letter was issued by the UGC in the context of the Ministry setting up an Expert Committee to prepare a road map for wide spread propagation and promotion of Sanskrit for  ensuring  the  development  of  Sanskrit  in  the  ensuring  ten  years.  The  Committee  has submitted its report recently.

(c): Yes, Madam.  The  UGC  has  informed that it had sought information from Vice Chancellor/Directors of all universities, where Sanskrit Teaching exists, for further development and  promotion  of  Sanskrit  teaching  and  learning  in  the  country.  The  details  of  the  letter  are available at http://www.ugc.ac.in/pdfnews/5819537\_Sanskrit.pdf .

(d)  &  (e):  The  National  Policy  on  Education,  1986 , regarding Sanskrit and Hindi, emphasizes development of Hindi as the link language, as provided for in Article 351 of the Constitution and teaching  of  Sanskrit  at  the  university  stage  as  part  of  certain  courses  like  Indology,  Indian History, Archaeology etc.

The  UGC  provides  assistance  for  establishment  and  development  of  Hindi Departments in Universities. The guidelines of the UGC scheme are at http://www.ugc.ac.in/pdfnews/2836102\_Final-guidelines-for-Hindi-Department.pdf .  The  UGC has further informed that it has been providing development assistance to Sanskrit universities and colleges. The Commission also provides assistance to other universities which are having the Department of Sanskrit.

Under the  Choice  Based  Credit  System  (CBCS)  the  UGC  has  given  the  option  to  the universities  to  change  the  syllabus  to  the  extent  of  30%  keeping  in  view  the  expertise  of  the universities in a subject domain.

Central  Hindi  Directorate,  a  subordinate  organisation  under  this  Ministry,  has  been engaged  in  propagation  of  Hindi  in  non-Hindi  speaking  States  by  implementing  various schemes.  Further,  Kendriya  Hindi  Sansthan  (KHS),  an  autonomous  body  under  this  Ministry, promotes & propagates the teaching and training of Hindi nationwide as per the provisions of the Article 351 of the Constitution of India. KHS, having its Headquarter at Agra, and through its 8 Regional  Centers  established  at  Delhi,  Hyderabad,  Guwahati,  Shillong,  Mysore,  Dimapur, Bhubaneswar and Ahmedabad, is working to improve the standard of teaching Hindi at various levels,  to  train  Hindi  Teachers,  to  provide  avenues  for  the  advance  study  and  comparative linguistics  related  to  different  Indian  languages,  to  organize  research,  to  formulate,  undertake and facilitate such courses.

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