UC103N - Indian Knowledge System

IKS- UC103N

Syllabus

Prerequisite: -Nil-
Course  Outcomes:

1. Understand the fundamentals of IKS.
2. Identify major IKS traditions and texts.
3. Explain key scientific contributions of IKS.
4. Relate IKS to contemporary issues.
5. Apply IKS principles in real-life contexts.


Learning content 
1. Meaning, scope, and relevance of Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) in the modern world; Overview of IKS
Course plan and Evaluation Plan.
2. Vedic Corpus-Four Vedas, Upavedas and Vedanga, Upanishads, Shiksha, Niruktis, Chandas etc
3. Vedic and non-Vedic philosophical systems, Nyāya, Vaiśeṣika, Vedānta, Sāṅkhya, Yoga, Buddhism, and
Jainism Wisdom through Puranas, Niti and Subhashita
4. Structure of Sanskrit language and Natural language processing through Sanskrit
5. Indian Numeral and Measurements systems for length, weight and time
6. Vedic Mathematics and its contributors, Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry and Combinatorics
7. Indian Astronomy – Unique aspects, Celestial Coordinates, Elements of Indian Calendar, Panchanga-Indian
calendar and astronomical instruments
8.11111111 Metals and Metal working – Wootz steel, Mining and Extraction of Gold, Silver, Copper and Zinc. Alloys,
lead and mercury. Traditional Agriculture, Irrigation and water management systems.
9 Rasayana Shastra – Dyes, paints, perfume and lacquer, Nanotechnology and Environmental Sustainability
10 Indian Architecture – Vastu shastra and its eight limbs, Temple architecture. Town planning,
alternative designs and unitary buildings
11 Life style management through Yoga and Ayurveda. Ashtanga yoga – eight limbs of Yoga. Foundations of
Ayurveda; Tri-doshas and disease management.
12 Art forms of India, Indian classical music and dance. Ethical governance and Public administration,
Vidura Niti and Arthashastra
Textbooks:

1. Mahadevan, B., Vinayak Rajat Bhat, and Nagendra Pavana R.N. Introduction to Indian Knowledge System: Concepts and Applications. PHI Learning, 2022
2. Kapoor, Kapil, and Avadhesh Kumar Singh, editors. Indian Knowledge Systems. 2 vols., D.K.Printworld, 2005.

Handbooks:

 1. Bansal, Gagan. Indian Knowledge System: Integrating Heritage with Engineering. Deep Science Research, 2022.
2. Chattopadhyaya, Debiprasad. Lokayata: A Study in Ancient Indian Materialism. People’s Publishing House, 1959.

SWAYAM:

1. Indian Knowledge System (IKS). Concepts and Applications in Engineering by IIMB/ Prof. B.Mahadevan et al.
2. Indian Knowledge System (IKS). Humanities and Social Sciences by IIMB/ Prof. B.Mahadevan et al.

Evaluation Plan

The evaluation of the IKS course be conducted through an MCQ-based examination, preferably in CBT mode (or
manual mode, if required).

The proposed evaluation pattern is as follows:
Each student will appear for two examinations.
Term 1 Examination: To be conducted in Week 7 – 50% weightage
Term 2 Examination: To be conducted in Week 14 – 50% weightage
Each department/faculty group may provide its own set of MCQs based on the nature and content of the
respective module/unit.