The programme exists to rejuvenate and mainstream Indian knowledge for the contemporary world, and to create a database of people and organisations who have contributed to research, teaching, publication and preservation of Indian knowledge.iks.aicte-india.org
In the November 2026 news, Jharkhand's education department applied this framework at school level, bringing local weavers, carpenters, painters and dance instructors into government schools as community teachers, so that students connect with their cultural heritage and reduce the load of textbook learning.Hindustan
Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) Division, Ministry of Education: quick facts
- Parent ministry
- Ministry of Education, Government of India; the IKS Division sits within the Department of Higher Education
- Current administrative support
- National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA), New Delhi; led by a National Coordinator
- Legal and policy basis
- National Education Policy 2020, which calls for inclusion of Indian knowledge in curricula at all levels
Key facts
| Parent ministry | Ministry of Education, Government of India; the IKS Division sits within the Department of Higher Educationiks.aicte-india.org |
|---|---|
| Current administrative support | National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA), New Delhi; led by a National Coordinatoriks.aicte-india.org |
| Legal and policy basis | National Education Policy 2020, which calls for inclusion of Indian knowledge in curricula at all levelsWikipedia |
| Scheme components | IKS Centres, research projects (up to ₹25 lakh per project over two years), internships, minors, textbook and course material writingiks.aicte-india.org |
Key features and how it works
- IKS Centres Programme: supports the setting up of IKS Centres as regional hubs for original research, education and dissemination of IKS knowledge.iks.aicte-india.org
- IKS Internships: give students the chance to study IKS topics in Bharatiya Bhashas during summer breaks or at other times of the year.iks.aicte-india.org
- IKS Textbook and Course Material Writing Scheme: encourages and funds high-quality textbooks and course materials on IKS.iks.aicte-india.org
Static GK
- Indian Knowledge Systems Division: a division within the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education; the IKS programme is implemented through it.iks.aicte-india.org
- National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA), New Delhi: provides administrative support to the IKS Division at present.iks.aicte-india.org
Achievements
- The IKS Division has an operating structure with a National Coordinator and an IKS team, and it runs schemes for research, internships and textbook writing.iks.aicte-india.org
- Jharkhand's plan links traditional crafts with science, mathematics and social science, so that difficult school subjects are taught through practical examples.Hindustan
Challenges
- Critics argue that IKS curricula present pseudoscience and pseudohistory, and that they lack a critical engagement with history that a genuine decolonisation project would need.Wikipedia
- Critics also say that heavy IKS content may reduce access to useful knowledge and weaken graduates' employability, and some have urged making IKS courses optional.Wikipedia
- Artisans brought in as community teachers may need training in classroom teaching and in linking craft to school syllabus, which is a practical gap in a programme that depends on local expertise.
Way forward
- Outcome monitoring of community-teacher classes, so that the link between craft knowledge and science, mathematics and social science can be checked against student learning.
- Handholding for artisans, such as teacher orientation and lesson design, so that they can teach effectively within school time and rules.
- Convergence with the IKS Division's textbook and course material scheme and with school eco-clubs, so that craft-based lessons follow a common and reviewed content base.
Timeline
12 November 2026
Jharkhand's education department plans to bring local artisans in as community teachers in government schools under the IKS framework, teaching crafts like Sohrai painting and bamboo craft on bagless days.
Read the storyJune 2022
The IKS Division team was enlarged to enhance its outreach and impact.iks.aicte-india.org
October 2021
The IKS Division was strengthened to implement its vision and expand its activities.iks.aicte-india.org
Every new story on this subject is added here automatically.
Frequently asked questions
Which ministry runs Indian Knowledge Systems?
The Ministry of Education runs it, through the IKS Division, which is placed within the Department of Higher Education.iks.aicte-india.org
What is the maximum research funding per IKS project?
The IKS research proposals programme gives a maximum of ₹25 lakh per project over two years, subject to peer review.iks.aicte-india.org
GS paper mapping
- GS-1Art and culture: traditional arts and crafts of India
- GS-2Government policies and interventions in education, National Education Policy 2020
- GS-3Conservation of traditional knowledge and environment (zero-waste and natural colour practices)
Sources
Every fact on this page was checked against these pages.
