Pedagogical Innovation of National Education Policy 2020 Applied to Ayurveda: An Undergraduate Minor and a Postgraduate Program

Abstract The National Education Policy 2020 (NEP-2020) envisions an education system deeply rooted in Indian ethos, promoting multidisciplinary learning and integrating Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) into mainstream higher education. This includes various avenues for creative pedagogical innovations in integrating Ayurveda and other Traditional Therapies in higher education. Utilizing these avenues, this paper presents two curricula - (1) a structured Undergraduate (UG) Minor Curriculum in “Ayurveda and Holistic Health”, developed by the Department of Ayurveda and Holistic Health (DAHH), and, (2) a two-year Master of Science (M.Sc.) (Indigenous and Traditional Therapies) program, developed by the Department of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (DCAM) at Dev Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya, Haridwar (DSVV). Designed under the Outcome-Based Education (OBE) and Choice Based Credit System (CBCS) frameworks, the 4-year, 32-credit Minor in Ayurveda and Holistic Health (one 4 credit course each semester) (based on University Grants Commission (UGC) Guidelines, December 2022) equips students with the philosophical and therapeutic principles of Ayurveda. The eight courses are: Basics of Ayurveda, Ayurvedic Anatomy & Physiology, Rog Vigyan, Ayurvedic Diet, Yagyopathy, Single Herb Therapy, Marma Therapy, and Panchakarma. The present paper discusses the curriculum's structure, implementation scheme, and learning outcomes, highlighting its alignment with NEP-2020’s mandate for IKS. Ever since its inception in 2023, the results are very encouraging. At postgraduate level, the two-year Master of Science (M.Sc.) (Indigenous and Traditional Therapies) program closely follows the tenets of NEP-2020 and the latest UGC directives (March 2023, June 2024, and March 2025). This curriculum also leverages an OBE model coupled with CBCS to seamlessly bridge traditional healing practices including Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Acupressure, etc., with contemporary scientific methodologies. This paper presents an in-depth exploration of the degree's structural blueprint, instructional strategies, and flexible learning pathways, featuring distinct choices between clinical application and intensive research in the final year, while outlining the anticipated professional proficiencies cultivated by this forward-thinking Master's program. The outcomes after the completion of one year of this program are quite encouraging.