IIT Roorkee and IIT Bhilai, two prominent Indian Institutes of Technology, have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance academic and research collaboration. This alliance aims to bolster the preservation and promotion of Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) while contributing to socio-economic development in tribal areas, according to media reports .
The focus areas include research on traditional medicinal plants, tribal culture studies, agricultural practices in tribal regions and financial literacy among tribal populations. This collaboration signifies a noteworthy step towards cultivating awareness among the youth regarding Indian culture and heritage, aligning with the government of India’s vision of Viksit Bharat@2047, as stated in an official institute statement.
Additionally, the partnership will actively support the objectives outlined in the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, with a focus on integrating Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) into the education system. IKS encompasses knowledge from ancient India, acknowledging its contributions to modern India and emphasises understanding India’s future aspirations in areas such as education, health, environment, and more. This collaboration is also in line with the Prime Minister’s vision of Ek Bharath Shreshtha Bharat, the statement mentioned.
Under the terms of the agreement, both institutions will exchange knowledge, promote Indian culture and knowledge systems, and collaborate on projects related to sustainable and rural development, ancient Indian science, fintech, health science, agriculture, artificial intelligence, complementary and alternative medicine, life management, environment, renewable energy, food processing, tourism management, languages, peace and conciliation, music, humanities, and common interests.
The collaboration will extend to the joint organisation of seminars, symposiums, conferences, workshops, and short-term training programs, further enhancing the academic and research synergy between IIT Roorkee and IIT Bhilai, it added.