INDIAN MATHEMATICS, ASTRONOMY AND SCIENTIFIC HERITAGE: AN INDIAN KNOWLEDGE SYSTEMS (IKS) PERSPECTIVE ALIGNED WITH NEP 2020

Abstract

Indian civilization constitutes one of the world’s earliest and most enduring traditions of scientific inquiry. Mathematics (Gaṇita) and astronomy (Jyotiṣa), as core elements of Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS), evolved through systematic observation, logical reasoning, abstraction, and practical application. Prior to the advent of modern science, Indian scholars developed the decimal place value system, the concept of zero, advanced algebraic techniques, trigonometry, and precise astronomical models. This chapter provides a comprehensive and critically informed account of Indian mathematics and astronomy from the Vedic period to the medieval era, emphasizing their epistemological foundations within IKS. Particular attention is given to mathematical examples, historical timelines, comparative tables, and scientific methodologies to illustrate the rigor of these traditions. The chapter aligns with the objectives of the National Education Policy (NEP-2020), which promotes the integration of Indian Knowledge Systems into curricula to foster interdisciplinary learning, scientific temper, cultural rootedness, and innovation. Also, this chapter seeks to demonstrate its significance for modern STEM education and global knowledge discourse.