S Ramanathan & HC Purohit
The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 marks a transformative shift in India’s educational and diplomatic landscape by integrating Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) into mainstream academia and foreign policy. Rooted in traditions such as Kautilya’s Arthashastra, Ayurveda, Yoga and Sanskrit, these systems once influenced vast swaths of the world through trade, scholarship and cultural exchange.
NEP 2020 seeks to revive and globalise this legacy by embedding these traditions into curricula and by positioning them as instruments of soft power. India’s Ministry of Culture and ICCR have spearheaded programmes like the Global Engagement Scheme’ and the Universalisation of Traditional Indian Knowledge Systems (UTIKS) platform to promote traditional wisdom globally. Celebrations such as International Yoga Day, endorsed by 177 UN member States, showcase the global appeal of IKS.
Historical Influence of Indian economic thought and global trade networks
The ancient Indian economy caused a regional stir in the world due to its extensive use of the Silk Route and its sea routes. India engaged in the exchange of gold, spices, textiles and even precious stones. India, at the same time, shared its philosophical and scientific knowledge especially in the fields of mathematics and medicine. Empires like the Kushanas and Cholas practised cultural and diplomatic trade while Buddhist economic ethics, particularly compassion and the duty of care, fundamentally shaped the governance of compassion ethics in the South East Asian region. Various guilds, including the Srenis and trade associations which were called Nanadesi and the Ayyavole-500, operated as advanced economic units with a degree of self-governance. They controlled trade and practised ethics. These approaches can be considered as examples of today’s sustainable business practices and responsible commerce. Indian maritime trade reached as far as Central Asia and to East Africa as seen by the archaeological discoveries of Hindu temples in Azerbaijan. These trade routes positioned India as the focal point of ancient globalisation, integrating trade with spirituality and cultural diplomacy. This is the legacy aimed by NEP 2020 to restore modern foreign relations.
NEP 2020’s global strategy for IKS and technological enablement
NEP 2020 has introduced a strategic framework for promoting Indian knowledge traditions globally through institutional, linguistic and technological avenues. It envisions Sanskrit and other classical languages not as archaic relics but as dynamic mediums for interdisciplinary and international dialogue. Dedicated institutions such as the National Institute of Pali, Prakrit and Classical Languages promote cross-cultural academic exchanges. In health education, NEP 2020 integrates Ayurveda and Yoga into global curricula. Additionally, it establishes IKS Chairs at foreign universities to foster sustained research on Vedic economics, architecture, ecology and governance. AI-based translation tools like those developed by AI Bharat enhance accessibility to ancient texts while blockchain technology ensures authenticity and intellectual property protection of digitised manuscripts. Immersive learning through AR/VR further democratises access, allowing learners worldwide to engage with Indian wisdom in historically and philosophically enriched environments.
Alignment with global sustainability and development goals
Indian knowledge systems offer actionable insights for achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Ayurveda aligns with SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) by promoting preventive healthcare through individualised, natural therapies. Its practices reduce environmental burdens and provide sustainable alternatives to conventional medicine. Vrikshayurveda, the ancient science of plant care, complements SDG 13 (Climate Action) by advocating eco-friendly farming using organic mixtures like Kunapajala, enhancing soil health and biodiversity. Similarly, the minimalist ethic, intrinsic to Indian philosophy, supports SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production). Ancient practices such as upcycling, community sharing and composting are timeless blueprints for circular economies. These principles challenge the global consumerist model, emphasising quality, necessity and ecological harmony. NEP 2020 not only revives these frameworks but adapts them for modern challenges, bridging tradition and innovation in the global pursuit of sustainability.
Challenges, policy solutions and the future of IKS in global education
The internationalisation of IKS suffers from many obstacles, despite the enthusiasm that the world has shown. Biopiracy, cultural commodification and lack of scientific validation are some of the reasons Indian Knowledge Systems face scepticism. While programmes like SVASTIK aim to scientifically validate traditional practices, protective measures like the Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL) prevent intellectual property theft, exemplified in the Neem and Turmeric patent disputes. Moreover, the over-commercialisation of Yoga and Ayurveda poses a threat to the dilution of core philosophies. Other strategic, targeted approaches include appointing trained IKS ambassadors, establishing bilateral agreements on knowledge exchange and collaborations with the UNESCO LINKS programme. From a pedagogical standpoint, the future of IKS lies within MOOCs and digital frameworks as well as global research networks like those under Future Earth. Through the issuance of IKS credits in higher education, along with online courses in Sanskrit and philosophy provided by IITs, the NEP 2020 aims to blend ancient wisdom into modern educational frameworks. In the end, IKS provides a well-structured blueprint for ethical global governance, global environmental and intercultural relations which makes it a diplomatic asset and a treasure to humanity.
Global Relevance of Indian Knowledge Systems in the Age of Knowledge Diplomacy
In today’s multipolar world where knowledge diplomacy is emerging as a key driver of soft power and global cooperation, IKS offers a unique cultural and intellectual advantage. NEP 2020’s emphasis on re-integrating IKS into global academic and policy frameworks signifies a shift from mere cultural showcasing to strategic knowledge leadership. India’s ability to offer time-tested models in wellness, ethical economics, sustainable agriculture and ecological living has placed it in a distinctive position amid growing global crises. In response to climate change, pandemics, and moral erosion in governance, the integrative and holistic worldviews found in Vedic, Buddhist and classical Indic traditions serve as viable frameworks for rethinking global paradigms. India is no longer positioning its traditional systems as oppositional to modern science but as complementary epistemologies that enrich the global knowledge pool. As more countries embrace pluralistic learning and post-colonial epistemologies, India’s intellectual heritage- supported by institutional, technological and diplomatic initiatives under NEP 2020- can foster shared understanding, mutual respect and global resilience. The confluence of ancient wisdom and modern innovation, if carefully curated, has the potential to elevate India from a civilisational State to a knowledge superpower—ushering in a new era of inclusive global thought leadership.
(Ramanathan is an academician, columnist and former Fellow- IIAS Shimla; Purohit is dean, School of Management, DSW and coordinator of Centre for Hindu Studies, Doon University. Views expressed are personal)
