Ayurveda, Darshanas, Vastu Vidya, Tribal Knowledge Base are among research proposals selected from all over India to be supported by The Indian Knowledge System (IKS) Division of Ministry of Education of All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE). A total of 13 proposals have been shortlisted, including Kalaripayattu, dance traditions, engineering and technology, architecture, literature and food traditions of Northeast India.
The ICC division received 120 proposals from institutions across the country to set up ICC centers and after a thorough peer review of the proposals, 13 were selected for funding. The selected proposals will be funded up to Rs 40 Lakhs for two years.
The AICTE also received 361 research proposals from institutions across the country, but after a rigorous peer review of the proposals, 14 proposals were selected for funding in six areas, including mathematics and astronomy, metallurgy and materials science and technology, chemical science and technology, health, Wellness and consciousness studies, political and economic thinking, economics and foreign policy, and art and culture.
In addition, seven proposals were selected as ICC research proposals from the center applications. The proposals will be funded up to Rs 20 Lakhs for two years. The grants will encourage original, serious and in-depth scientific research in the ICC.
Prof. dr. Anil Sahashrabudhe, Chairman of AICTE, congratulated the winners: “I must congratulate all universities, colleges and faculty members for making the cut. The grand vision of the IKS division of the Ministry of Education of AICTE is to initiate a process on to educate generations of scientists who will show society the ‘Indian way’ of being, knowing and doing things.If we want to become the Knowledge Leader in this century and become the ‘Vishswavaguru’ again, we must recover a comprehensive knowledge of our heritage and demonstrate the ‘Indian way’ of business to the whole world.”
The main objective of these initiatives is to promote ICC research, education and outreach at various levels by providing opportunities for scholars and institutions working in related fields to institutionalize ICC research and education.
Selected IKS Center proposals
| S. NO | Name IKS center | Institution |
| 1 | Center for Excellence in IKS-Chanakya University | University of Chanakya |
| 2 | Center for Ancient History and Culture | Jain University, Bengaluru |
| 3 | IKS Center for Kalaripayattu and Siddhar Tradition | Trinity College of Engineering, Thiruvananthapuram |
| 4 | Noopura Bhramari, Bengaluru | Noopura Bhramari (R.) |
| 5 | Samvit Research Foundation | Samvit Research Foundation |
| 6 | IKS at IITBHU Vararanasi | IITBHU Varanasia |
| 7 | IIT Madras Center for Indian Knowledge Systems | IIT Madras |
| 8 | Bharatiya Darshan Kavikulaguru Kalidas Sanskrit University | Kavikulaguru Kalidas Sanskrit University, Ramtek |
| 9 | Vastuvidya gurukulam | Ministry of Culture, Kerala Government |
| 10 | AMRITA IKS Center for Ayurveda, Vyakarana and Darshana | Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham |
| 11 | Sampurnanand Sanskrit University IKS Center | Sampurnanand Sanskrit University, Varanasia |
| 12 | CTKI – Center for Traditional Knowledge and Informatics | Trans Disciplinary Institute of Health Sciences |
| 13 | Center for Indian Knowledge Systems – with special reference for Northeast Studies | University of Assam, Silchar |
Selected research proposals
| S. No | project title | PI name |
| 1 | Delineation of Ramakatha by Samvaada | dr. MVVishwanath |
| 2 | Production of colored cotton using ancient chemical formulations from the Sanskrit text Vishvavallabha | dr. Sharatkumar Variyar |
| 3 | Exploring traditional iron monuments in central India and understanding their metallurgical origins | Eswara Prasad Korimilli |
| 4 | Development of Fe-based composite materials that mimic the structure of Delhi’s iron pillars | dr. Santosh S. Hosmanic |
| 5 | An in-depth study aimed at rejuvenating the traditional Sanskrit purana katha akhyana traditions of Kerala Pathakam and Chakyar koothu | Sreekanth V |
| 6 | Demonstration and Reproduction with Scientific Validation of an Ancient India Ceramics Knowledge System | Prof. dr. Rajiv Prakash |
| 7 | A study and adaptation of ancient Indian alloy processing and metallurgical technologies for self-healing and gradient structure applications | dr. Somashekara MA |
| 8 | Development and characterization of new metallic Vajra Lep coating | dr. Vinod Kumara |
| 9 | Mathematical Modeling and Investigation of Vibration and Sound Characteristics of Indian Stringed Instruments | dr. Ashok Kumar Mandal |
| 10 | Correlation studies of copper artifacts (2500-200 BCE) from Varanasi region and copper mining and smelting in Singhbhum tribal areas | Chandan Upadhyay |
| 11 | Hita and Sukha Ayu Wellbeing Wellness and Happiness Index | dr. Mala Kapadia |
| 12 | Nyanjanam Indian Logical Aid Tool | dr. Munish Kumar Mishra |
| 13 | Yoga and Ayurveda Knowledge Engine based wellness technology with portable and mobile app | Adinarayanan V |
| 14 | An overview of the water resources of the Vidarbha region based on the Indian Dakargala system | Prof Prasad Gokhalea |
| 15 | Center for Shaastric Studies of Law | Prof. dr. (Dr.) Himanshu Pandey |
| 16 | NIAS IKS Center on Mathematics, Computation and Information Science | Shailaja D Sharma |
| 17 | Siksha O Anusandhan IKS Center | Nachiketa Khamari Sharma |
| 18 | Early Science Technology Engineering Education and Mathematics ESTEEM of India Research Center | Ashish Karn |
| 19 | IKS Center for Avadhanakala and Consciousness Studies, Rishihood University | Sampadananda Mishra |
| 20 | Dharana-IKS Center at REVA University | dr. Vidya Kumari S |
| 21 | In vitro evaluation of the antioxidant activity of free radicals and antiproliferative properties of some indigenous Ayurveda medicinal plants used by selected tribal groups of Andhra Pradesh | Prof. dr. TV Kattimani |
The IKS Centers program is designed to encourage and fund the establishment of IKS Centers across the country to catalyze original research, education and dissemination of IKS knowledge.
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