Decolonizing Knowledge Frameworks: Indian Knowledge Systems, Postcolonial Thought and the National Education Policy

The renewed focus on Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) in the National Education Policy (2020) marks a significant shift in the way education in India is being reimagined. For decades, formal education continued to operate within frameworks inherited from colonial rule, where Western models of knowledge were treated as universal and indigenous traditions were either marginalized or reduced to cultural symbols. This paper approaches the integration of IKS under NEP through a postcolonial perspective, viewing it as an attempt to address long-standing epistemic inequalities rather than merely a policy-driven reform. Drawing on postcolonial thought, the study examines how colonial education systems shaped hierarchies of knowledge that privileged Western rationality while undermining local, experiential and ethical forms of knowing. In this context, the reintroduction of IKS is understood as a process of intellectual recovery that seeks to restore balance within educational structures. The paper argues that Indian knowledge traditions should not be approached as static residues of the past but as living, adaptive systems that have historically engaged with philosophy, science, ecology and ethics in an integrated manner. The discussion further explores how NEP’s emphasis on multidisciplinary learning, ethical education and cultural rootedness resonates with the core principles of indigenous knowledge practices. At the same time, the paper cautions against uncritical revivalism and highlights the importance of inclusivity, hybridity and critical engagement to avoid essentialist interpretations of tradition. By situating IKS within a postcolonial framework, the study proposes a reflective model of educational reform that acknowledges colonial legacies while encouraging innovation grounded in cultural contexts. Ultimately, the paper suggests that a thoughtfully integrated IKS framework can contribute to a more inclusive, ethical and socially responsive education system in contemporary India.