Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) and Environmental Sustainability: Integrating Tradition with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This paper critically examines Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) in the context of environmental sustainability, emphasizing their relevance to global frameworks like the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It explores how ancient Indian practices in water conservation, agriculture, architecture, biodiversity preservation, and ethical environmentalism contribute to sustainable development. Furthermore, it critiques the Eurocentric orientation of global environmental governance, particularly in the context of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and argues for the recognition and adoption of Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) in academic and policy discourse. Through historical examples, contemporary applications, case studies, and a critical policy analysis, the paper highlights epistemic richness of IKS as a foundation for sustainable development and a strategy for achieving ecological resilience.