Lok Sabha Question No. 5784 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-30
Subject: Mainstreaming of Buddhist Studies in Universities
Ministry: EDUCATION
Asked by: Shri Jagdambika Pal, Shri Anurag Singh Thakur

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5784

ANSWERED ON - 30/03/2026

## Mainstreaming of Buddhist Studies in Universities

## 5784.Shri Jagdambika Pal: Shri Anurag Singh Thakur:

Will the Minister of Education be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  cognizant  of  the  academic,  cultural  and  diplomatic  significance  of mainstreaming Buddhist Studies as a formal discipline at undergraduate, postgraduate and Ph.D. levels across  universities  in  the  country  under  the  Indian  Knowledge  Systems  (IKS)  framework  of  the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, in view of India being the birthplace of Buddhism and home to major Buddhist heritage sites, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government has formulated or proposes to develop a standardized curriculum for Buddhist Studies  covering  areas  such  as  Pali  language,  Buddhist  philosophy,  Tibetan  studies,  archaeology, Buddhist art, heritage conservation and ethics along with provisions for dedicated faculty positions, research  fellowships  and  accreditation  frameworks  across  Central  and  State  universities,  if  so,  the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has established or proposes to establish a Centre of Excellence, Buddhist Studies Chairs or inter-university consortium in the Siddharthnagar-Kapilvastu-Shravasti-Kushinagar belt and in Dharamshala, residence of Holiness of 14th Dalai Lama to integrate academic research with the  Buddhist  Circuit  initiative  and  leveraging  institutions  like  the  Library  of  Tibetan  Works  and Archives to advance Buddhist diplomacy;
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (e) the initiatives undertaken by the Government for faculty development, language training, international collaboration with Buddhist Nations such as Sri Lanka, Japan, Thailand, Bhutan and Myanmar?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (e): The Government of India has framed the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 with an aim to promote a holistic and multidisciplinary education systems, focussing on the integration and promotion of Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS). The Policy provides for the inclusion of Indian traditions and practices in the curriculum, promoting a multidisciplinary approach in higher education ecosystem, thereby enabling universities to offer a diverse range of subjects at undergraduate, postgraduate and PhD levels across the country.  Further,  as  'Education'  subject  falls  under  the  Concurrent  List  of  the  Constitution  of  India, establishment and management of educational institutions is undertaken by both the Central and the State Governments.

In alignment with the objectives of NEP 2020, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has notified the Curriculum and Credit Framework for Undergraduate Programmes (CCF-UG) and issued guidelines for incorporating Indian Knowledge Systems into higher education curricula.

Further,  several  central  universities  such  as  University  of  Delhi,  Banaras  Hindu  University,  Central University of Himachal Pradesh and Sikkim University, have departments of Buddhist Studies and offer various UG, PG and Research Programs in Buddhist Studies.

In addition to the above, Institutions under the Ministry of Culture contribute significantly to the academic development of Buddhist Studies, such as, Nava Nalanda Mahavihara, Bihar; Central Institute of Higher Tibetan  Studies  (CIHTS),  Sarnath,  Varanasi;  Central  Institute  of  Himalayan  Culture  Studies  (CIHCS), Arunachal Pradesh and Central Institute of Buddhist Studies (CIBS), Leh, Ladakh.

- i. Nava Nalanda Mahavihara, Nalanda, offers programmes at undergraduate, postgraduate and Ph.D. levels in Buddhist Studies, Pali, Sanskrit and related disciplines, including specialised courses in Buddhist philosophy and Buddhist tourism management.
- ii. Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies (CIHTS), Sarnath, Varanasi, a Deemed-to-be university offers  structured  programmes at  undergraduate,  postgraduate and doctoral levels  based on the Nalanda tradition.    The  curriculum  infrastructure  of  the  Institute  includes  faculty  of  Buddhists  philosophy encompassing  India  Buddhist  philosophy  along  with  the  major  tradition  of  Tibetan  traditions  such  as Nyingma, Kagyu, Sakya, Gelug and Bon.
- iii. Central Institute of Himalayan Culture Studies (CIHCS), Arunachal Pradesh, also offers programmes in  Buddhist  and  Himalayan  Studies,  with  structured  curricula  covering  Buddhist  philosophy,  Tibetan studies and cultural traditions.
- iv. Central Institute of Buddhist Studies (CIBS), Leh, Ladakh promotes study in Buddhist philosophy, logic, and culture, along with the teaching of classical languages such as Sanskrit, Pali, and Bhoti.

Department  of  Higher  Education,  Ministry  of  Education  also  implements  the  National  Mission  on Education through Information and Communication Technology (NMEICT) in alignment with the vision of NEP 2020. The scheme aims to leverage the potential of ICT, in all processes of education providing learning resources through digital platforms. Under the NMEICT scheme, Study Webs of Active Learning for  Young Aspiring  Minds  (SWAYAM)  platform  hosts  content  curated  by  premier  institutions  and  is available free of cost with the approach of 'Anyone, Anywhere, Anytime' Learning. Under this platform four courses have been offered for Buddhist studies namely History of Indian Buddhism , Abhidhamma (Pali) , Buddhist Philosophy and Buddhist Tourism , with more than 30,000 enrolments received since 2023.

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