Students To Earn Credits For Special Expertise In Vedas, Puranas And Other Indian Knowledge Systems Under New Framework

Under the new National Credit Framework (NCrF), students can earn credits for specialised knowledge in Puranas, Vedas, and the Indian Knowledge System, according to the final report on NCrF released by the University Grants Commission.

Credits are essentially a "recognition that a learner has completed a prior course of learning, corresponding to a qualification at a given level", according to the report. They serve as a means of quantifying learning outcomes.

The NCrF provides guidelines for schools, colleges and universities to adopt the credit system.

The NCrF also brings the entire school education system under the ambit of credits for the first time. Earlier, only the National Institute of Open Schooling previously followed a credit system. Additionally, the NCrF also covers skill and vocational education.

The document lists 18 major Vidyas and 64 kalas, which can be considered for credits in school education.

The new document released by UGC has included "special expertise in Indian Knowledge System" as one of the six areas in which students who are national- and international-level achievers can earn credits, reports Indian Express.

This new category joins the existing five: games and sports, performing arts, craftsman of heritage, social work, and special achievement in innovation.

The NCrF acknowledges 18 Vidyas comprising of the four Vedas, the four subsidiary Vedas - Ayurveda, Dhanurveda, Gandharveda, Silpa - along with Purana, Nayaya, Mimansa, Dharmashastra, Vedanga, and six auxiliary sciences such as phonetics, grammar, astronomy, and philosophy as eligible for "creditisation".

The special achievements in the 18 Vidyas, which can be counted as credits, could be medals, holding positions in national and international events, Padma or other awards conferred by central or state governments, and high impact social work, IE reported.

To illustrate how special achievements can be counted in terms of the credits earned, the NCrF document said, “If a person has won a gold medal in the Olympic Games, his preparation and practice for this outcome and achievement could be equated with the skilling credit requirements (say 70% credits) for a B.Voc degree in physical education. Just by accumulating 30 percent remaining academic credits (say in Hindi), the person could get vocational degree in physical education".