Bridging Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Modern Academia: Implementing India's National Education Policy 2020 Based Curricula for Traditional Therapies

India’s National Education Policy 2020 (NEP-2020) strongly advocates for the revitalization of Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) and the promotion of multidisciplinary learning within mainstream higher education. Aligning with this transformative vision and the global movement toward integrating Indigenous knowledge into academia, this paper presents two innovative curricula, which contextualize ancient healing traditions within contemporary academic frameworks. First, the paper details a four-year, 32-credit Undergraduate (UG) Minor in "Ayurveda and Holistic Health". Designed for students across diverse disciplines, this Minor utilizes Outcome-Based Education (OBE) and the Choice-Based Credit System (CBCS) to impart foundational Ayurvedic principles, preventive healthcare, and therapies like Panchakarma and Marma Therapy. Second, the study outlines a two-year Master of Science (M.Sc.) (Indigenous and Traditional Therapies) program, which bridges classical therapeutic disciplines, such as Ayurveda, Naturopathy, Yoga, and Acupressure, with modern research methodology. It features a flexible, dual-pathway structure in the final year, enabling students to specialize in either hands-on clinical practice or rigorous academic research. The present paper demonstrates successful mitigation of preliminary challenges related to cross-disciplinary curriculum design. Furthermore, students have exhibited enhanced practical competencies and a profound appreciation for evidence-based traditional sciences. Ultimately, these curricula serve as scalable models for institutionalizing ancestral wisdom to cultivate culturally grounded, ethically aware professionals equipped to address modern lifestyle challenges.

Authors

Institutions

Publication Details

Journal
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Published
2026-09-06
DOI
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.22547983
Primary Topic
Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Agriculture
Type
preprint
Controls
|||
ALL TIME
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
preprint

Bridging Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Modern Academia: Implementing India's National Education Policy 2020 Based Curricula for Traditional Therapies

Alka Mishra, Saurabh Mishra
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Agriculture
preprint

Bridging Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Modern Academia: Implementing India's National Education Policy 2020 Based Curricula for Traditional Therapies

Alka Mishra, Saurabh Mishra
preprint en

Abstract

India’s National Education Policy 2020 (NEP-2020) strongly advocates for the revitalization of Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) and the promotion of multidisciplinary learning within mainstream higher education. Aligning with this transformative vision and the global movement toward integrating Indigenous knowledge into academia, this paper presents two innovative curricula, which contextualize ancient healing traditions within contemporary academic frameworks. First, the paper details a four-year, 32-credit Undergraduate (UG) Minor in "Ayurveda and Holistic Health". Designed for students across diverse disciplines, this Minor utilizes Outcome-Based Education (OBE) and the Choice-Based Credit System (CBCS) to impart foundational Ayurvedic principles, preventive healthcare, and therapies like Panchakarma and Marma Therapy. Second, the study outlines a two-year Master of Science (M.Sc.) (Indigenous and Traditional Therapies) program, which bridges classical therapeutic disciplines, such as Ayurveda, Naturopathy, Yoga, and Acupressure, with modern research methodology. It features a flexible, dual-pathway structure in the final year, enabling students to specialize in either hands-on clinical practice or rigorous academic research. The present paper demonstrates successful mitigation of preliminary challenges related to cross-disciplinary curriculum design. Furthermore, students have exhibited enhanced practical competencies and a profound appreciation for evidence-based traditional sciences. Ultimately, these curricula serve as scalable models for institutionalizing ancestral wisdom to cultivate culturally grounded, ethically aware professionals equipped to address modern lifestyle challenges.

Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Dev Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya (IN)
Quality Education
Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Agriculture
AI Navigator

Ask Laika to Summarize, Analyze, and Connect papers live on the map.

Summarize Papers & Methodologies

Extract key findings, datasets, and comparative methods across publications.

Benchmark Rankings & Visual Analytics

Rank top research institutions, authors, funders, topics, and journals by Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) and paper volume with instant charts.

Connect Distant Disciplines

Bridge topological clusters on the map to find hidden collaborative intersections.