BENGAL’S CLASSROOMS PREPARE FOR AN ANCIENT KNOWLEDGE REVIVAL: VEDIC MATHEMATICS AND CHANAKYA NITI PROPOSED FOR HIGHER EDUCATION
November 4, 2026
KOLKATA: The West Bengal government is preparing a major revision of the higher education curriculum, with Vedic mathematics and Chanakya Niti likely to be introduced into undergraduate and postgraduate courses as part of a broader effort to incorporate the Indian Knowledge System (IKS) into university education.
A task force established by the Suvendu Adhikari government to overhaul higher education syllabi is expected to recommend the inclusion of Vedic mathematics at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Chanakya Niti is also proposed for students studying political science and economics. The revised curricula could come into effect from the next academic year.
The task force is chaired by former University Grants Commission chairman M. Jagadesh Kumar and has been assigned the responsibility of developing a uniform syllabus for colleges and universities while integrating traditional Indian knowledge into academic programmes.
Kallol Paul, a mathematics professor at Jadavpur University and a member of the task force who is now vice-chancellor of Kalyani University, said that earlier reservations about introducing the Indian Knowledge System into university syllabi had been overcome. He highlighted ancient India's mathematical contributions, including the discovery of zero, and said experts were examining areas of Vedic mathematics and ancient astronomy for possible academic inclusion.
The proposed changes follow the state government's decision to implement the National Education Policy (NEP), which was adopted by the previous Mamata Banerjee government in 2023 but did not incorporate the Indian Knowledge System into the curriculum.
The NEP advocates the inclusion of traditional knowledge, tribal practices, classical sciences, Vedic mathematics and traditional medicine within multidisciplinary education across schools and universities. Higher Education Minister Jagannath Chattopadhyay had earlier indicated that the state intended to follow the policy and restore the importance of India's intellectual heritage.
Officials associated with the syllabus revision have argued that traditional knowledge and modern education should not be treated as mutually exclusive. They believe that carefully integrating established Indian intellectual traditions with contemporary academic disciplines could contribute to a broader educational framework.
IIT Kharagpur is also working with the task force on implementing the Indian Knowledge System. The institute introduced a master's programme in IKS in June as part of its platinum jubilee celebrations. The programme covers India's mathematical and scientific heritage, linguistic theories, holistic wellness and leadership principles, combining classical knowledge with contemporary academic and scientific perspectives.
However, the proposed integration has also generated concerns among sections of the academic community. Some teachers have warned against the possibility of pseudoscientific subjects entering university curricula under the broader umbrella of traditional knowledge. A teacher at the Indian Statistical Institute, Calcutta, raised concerns about courses involving reincarnation, out-of-body experiences, astrology and other subjects being taught at certain institutions.
Teachers at the institute have also expressed apprehension over a recent Bill introduced by the Union government in the Lok Sabha, which they said could interfere with the autonomous governance structure of the Indian Statistical Institute to facilitate the introduction of IKS components.
As the West Bengal government moves towards revising university syllabi, the proposed inclusion of Vedic mathematics and Chanakya Niti is likely to intensify the academic debate over how India's historical intellectual traditions should be incorporated into modern higher education without compromising scientific standards and academic rigour.
