CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES IN EMBEDDING INDIAN KNOWLEDGE TRADITIONS (IKTS) IN TEACHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS

The integration of Indian Knowledge Traditions (IKTs) into teacher education institutions presents both a profound opportunity and a complex challenge in contemporary India’s educational landscape. Rooted in centuries of wisdom, holistic learning, and a deep connection between knowledge, ethics, and the environment, IKTs offer a rich repository for developing culturally grounded, value-based, and sustainable education. The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 has revitalized this discourse by emphasizing the inclusion of Indian heritage, philosophy, and traditional epistemologies in all levels of education, particularly in teacher preparation. Embedding IKTs in teacher education aims to nurture educators who are not only pedagogically competent but also culturally responsive and ethically oriented. It enables teachers to integrate local knowledge systems, indigenous pedagogies, yoga, Ayurveda, traditional arts, and environmental wisdom into classroom practices, thereby fostering a balanced synthesis of ancient wisdom and modern innovation.