Lok Sabha Question No. 160 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-07-18
Subject: Sanskrit Language
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: NANABHAU FALGUNRAO PATOLE

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

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 160 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.07.2016

## Sanskrit Language

## †160. SHRI NANA PATOLE:

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

- (a) whether the Government is aware of the suggestion sought by the University Grants Commission (UGC) from universities in order to promote sanskrit language as per the proposed new Education Policy;
- (b) whether the incidence of questioning the qualification of sanskrit teachers teaching at school level in the suggestions forwarded by the Vice Chancellors of Universities has come into light in this regard and if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  make  a  paper  of  sanskrit  compulsory  at Twelfth Standard alongwith the areas of Ayurveda, History, Dance and Art; and
- (d)  if  so,  the  details  of  arrangements  made  by  the  Government  to  strengthen  the sanskrit language at school and university level?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)

- (a): The new education policy is under deliberation. The University Grants Commission  (UGC)  has  informed  that  it  has  requested  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.
- (b): The UGC has informed that there is no such information.
- (c) & (d): There is no such proposal making Sanskrit compulsory in XII class.

The  Ministry  and  the  UGC  have  been  providing  development  assistance  to Sanskrit  Universities  and  Colleges  for  promotion  of  Sanskrit.  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.

The Ministry provides funding to a Deemed to be University, namely Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan (RSKS), New Delhi and Maharshi Sandipani Rashtriya Veda Vidya Pratishthan, Ujjain, an autonomous organization which are engaged in promotion of Sanskrit.  The  UGC  provides  funding  to  two  Sanskrit  Deemed  to  be  Universities, namely: (i) Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri Rashtriya Sanskrit Vidyapeetha (SLBSRSV), New Delhi; and (ii) Rashtriya Sanskrit Vidyapeetha (RSV), Tirupati.

RSKS  is  implementing  various  schemes  for  promotion  and  propagation  of Sanskrit Language & Literature like Scheme for Financial Assistance for Publication, Re-print  of  Rare  Sanskrit  Books  and  Bulk  Purchase  of  Sanskrit  Books,  Financial Assistance  for  Sanskrit  Teaching,  Samman  Rashi  to  eminent  Sanskrit  Pandits  in indigent  circumstances.    Further  information  is  available  on  website  of  RSKS, SLBSRSV & RSV, Tirupati at www.sanskrit.nic.in, www.slbsrsv.ac.in & www.rsvidyapeetha.ac.in respectively.

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