IKS refers to ancient wisdom developed through generations of community interaction with natural environments — covering medicine, agriculture, water management, architecture, and ecology.
Key Initiatives
| Initiative | Details |
|---|---|
| NEP 2020 | Advocates integrating IKS with modern curricula; multidisciplinary approach |
| TKDL (Traditional Knowledge Digital Library) | Documents over 4,50,000 formulations from Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, and Yoga; prevents biopiracy by prior-art evidence |
| Gyan Bharatam Mission (2025) | Creates unified digital repository of India’s cultural heritage — manuscripts, palm leaves, inscriptions |
Significance for UPSC
- GS1: Indian heritage, art, and culture; traditional knowledge systems
- GS2: Education policy, NEP 2020 integration
- GS3: Traditional agricultural knowledge, sustainable practices
- Interview: “How can India protect its traditional knowledge from biopiracy while also commercialising it for global markets?”
Sources: NextIAS Yojana January 2026, EduRev Yojana January 2026 Part 2