The Centre has been established in adherence to the goals of the Ministry of Education, Government of India, and National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 for the facilitation and dissemination of Bharatiya Gnana Parampara (Indian Traditional Knowledge Systems) based interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research and outreach activities. NEP 2020 also encourages an India-centric education and research ecosystem that contributes directly to transforming the nation, a major thrust area of which is the promotion of research that is increasingly based on the foundation of traditional knowledge systems, indigenous and tribal knowledge, local resources and needs of the people in the country.

The Mission of the Centre is to create an ecosystem whereby participants draw on their past knowledge, traditions and heritage to create a futuristic society in alignment with global sustainable development.

The Centre will undertake academic activities that advance the spirit of research on Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) in students, faculty and other participants. Drawing from India’s heritage and knowledge traditions, the Centre will promote a liberal arts approach to integrate various disciplines (humanities, social-sciences and sciences), so as to promote adaptive pedagogical practices, as well as interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research, for students and faculty alike.

The Centre for Indian Knowledge Systems was inaugurated on January 16, 2023, in the august presence of Prof. A. B. Shukla (Professor and Head, Bharat Vidya Prayojana, IGNCA), Prof. Kapil Kapoor (Former Professor and Rector, JNU, recipient of Padma Bhushan 2023), Dr. P. K. Khurana (Former Principal, SBSC) and Prof. Arun Kumar Attree (Principal, SBSC). During the program, the logo of the Centre was also revealed by the Chief Guest, accompanied by other guests and the Principal. Prof. Attree expressed his enthusiasm at the opening of the Centre for Indian Knowledge Systems and ensured that he will extend all his support and encouragement for the growth of the Centre. The Coordinator of the Centre for Indian Knowledge Systems, Dr. Komal Agarwal, apprised the audience of the aims of the Centre and assured that the Centre will leave no stone unturned towards the creation of an Indic-centred knowledge ecosystem in the University. An academic talk was organized by the Centre for Indian Knowledge Systems in the College on February 10, 2023. Prof. B. Mangalam, Professor of English, Aryabhatta College, delivered a lecture on “Poetic Conventions and Political Praxis in The Book of Vanci.” The discussant for the day was Dr. S. Varadharaj, Assistant Professor in the Department of English of Shaheed Bhagat Singh College. The talk was also streamed live for faculty and students of the Department of English of other Colleges of University of Delhi, as the text is in the prescribed syllabus of Semester I students majoring in English.