BRIDGING TRADITION AND INNOVATION: ROLE OF IKS IN NEP 2020 IMPLEMENTATION

Abstract

The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 marks a significant paradigm shift in Indian education by advocating the integration of Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) across all levels of learning. This paper explores how NEP 2020 envisions bridging tradition and innovation by mainstreaming indigenous knowledge—spanning disciplines such as Ayurveda, mathematics, philosophy, arts, and environmental ethics—into modern pedagogy. It discusses the historical context of IKS, its marginalization during colonial rule, and the renewed effort to reclaim it through curriculum reform, pedagogical innovation, language promotion, research, and teacher training. By aligning IKS with contemporary educational goals such as sustainability, inquiry-based learning, and value education, NEP 2020 presents a culturally rooted yet globally responsive model. However, the paper also identifies key challenges in implementing IKS, including lack of trained faculty, curricular standardization, and institutional resistance.