A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE ANCIENT INDIAN EDUCATION SYSTEM AND CONTEMPORARY INDIAN EDUCATION SYSTEM

This paper presents a comparative analysis of the ancient Indian education system and the contemporary Indian education system. The ancient Indian education model, rooted in the Gurukul system, emphasised holistic development, moral values and spiritual education, blending subjects such as philosophy, mathematics, medicine and the arts. Education was personal, with a strong teacher-student relationship, and was not influenced by formal examinations or rigid structures. In contrast, the modern Indian education system, influenced by colonial and global developments, is characterised by institutionalised schooling with a focus on formal degrees and competitive examinations. While advances in science, technology and universal access to education have broadened opportunities, there is growing criticism of the system's excessive emphasis on rote learning, lack of value-based education and inadequate attention to critical thinking and creativity. The aim of the study is to identify the strengths and limitations of both systems, highlighting how ancient practices can inform current reforms, particularly in areas such as value-based education, teacherstudent relationships and holistic education.