A Study of the Scientific Approach to Indian Knowledge System in the Present-Day Context

Abstract

The Indian Knowledge System (IKS) represents a vast repository of indigenous wisdom spanning mathematics, medicine, astronomy, architecture, metallurgy, linguistics, philosophy, and governance. In the present-day context, particularly following the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, there has been a renewed institutional push to integrate IKS into mainstream education and research. However, this integration raises a fundamental question: What does it mean to take a "scientific approach" to traditional knowledge? This article critically examines the epistemological foundations of IKS, evaluates its intersections with modern scientific methods, and analyzes the policy frameworks currently shaping its revival. Drawing on recent scholarship, conference proceedings, and policy documents, the study argues that a genuine scientific approach to IKS requires navigating between two extremes—uncritical celebration and outright dismissal. It proposes a framework of critical engagement that respects traditional knowledge while subjecting it to empirical scrutiny, distinguishes between testable claims and philosophical insights, and ensures inclusivity across India's diverse knowledge traditions. The article concludes that the future of IKS lies not in isolation or domination but in dialogue—a pluralistic integration where ancient wisdom and modern science inform rather than displace each other.